ONSUB-SOILPLOUGHING. 99 



ON SUB-SOIL PLOUGHING. 



The Committee on Sub-Soil Ploughing, Report : 

 That the only entry of sub-soil ploughs, was made by Mr. 

 Benjamin Poore, of West Newbury, to whom the Society has 

 been often indebted for contributions to its shows. He pre- 

 sented to the notice of the Committee, two sub-soil ploughs, of 

 Ruggles, Nourse & Mason's manufacture, number one and me- 

 dium size ; one of Howard's and one of Prouty's new pattern. 

 These were successfully tried with two yoke of oxen attached, 

 and their working examined by your Committee. They all 

 did the work of stirring the soil well, and the Committee will 

 not attempt to decide on the relative merits of the respective 

 ploughs on a trial necessarily very limited. They were incli- 

 ned to think the double wing, attached to Howard's plough, 

 an improvement, as giving a steady motion to the plough, 

 without much increasing the draft. The farming interest is 

 greatly indebted to these enterprising plough manufacturers, 

 for offering them very good sub-soil ploughs at a moderate 

 cost, in so short a time since the implement was first known in 

 this country. 



Farmers every where, who have tried sub-soil ploughing, 

 concur in representing it as beneficial in draining wet lands, 

 and in counteracting the effects of drought on dry soils; and your 

 Committee believe its advantages will be made apparent to all 

 who will make a trial of it. They recommend that the pre- 

 mium of ten dollars be awarded to Mr. Poore, as an acknow- 

 ledgement of the service rendered by him to the farmers assem- 

 bled at the Show, by presenting these different sub-soil ploughs 

 for their inspection, and affording the opportunity of witness- 

 ing their operations, and thus endeavoring to introduce this 

 valuable implement to more general use. 



For the Committee, 



J. H. DUNCAN. 



Ipswich.. Sept. 24, 1845. 



