1840.] SENATE— No 36. 211 



point of the share in this mortice: then in order to move the sub-soil 

 as much as possible, I placed an oblique spur upon the one side of the 

 plough, which throws up the subsoil after the furrow has been divided 

 and breaks it, but does not throw it further up than the bottom of the 

 furrow of the active soil. 



Mr. Hadley. Does not the spur increase the draught? — It does 

 not materially. 



How many horses does it require to work that plough ? — Generally 

 four horses in ordinary sub-soils, but upon some it has been neces- 

 sary to use eight horses. 



How deep do you plough ? — Sixteen inches from the surface. 



Mr. Loch. What is the depth of the original furrow ? — Six in- 

 ches ; we first go on with the common plough and turn over a fur- 

 row of the depth of six or eight inches, and then the sub-soil plough 

 goes and stirs up the bottom without bringing the soil further up than 

 its original position, then when the common plough comes round 

 again, it throws the active soil upon that part which has been sub- 

 soiled. 



Then the advantage of stirring up the sub-soil is that the water 

 which falls gets down to the bottom of the second furrow so as to 

 relieve the upper soil from the effects of the rain that falls ? — Yes ; 

 besides there is a constant operation of the air upon the sub-soil, which 

 converts it into soil. 



Mr. Cayley. Is it with a view to draining principally ? — With a 

 view first to draining, and then to converting the sub-soil into a fit 

 soil for growing plants. 



It makes the soil more permeable ? — Yes. 



How long have you been doing this? — About twelve years. 



In the first instance, if you were to turn up that sub-soil, it would 

 not be a productive soil, and therefore you prepare it by this course 

 for subsequent turning up when it is prepared? — Yes. 



When you conceive it to have come into a proper state for vege- 

 tation, do you turn it up at once or gradually ? — At once. 



Do you find that the soil will be very productive the first year after 

 it is turned up ? — I find it so. 



Do you stir it up with the old soil ? — I sub-soil it only once. I then 

 take a green crop, followed by a grain crop ; then it lies three years 

 in grass ; and then after that, I take a crop of oats; and then after, I 

 turn it up to the depth of sixteen inches. 



Then it takes about three or four years to bring the sub-soil to a 

 proper degree of preparation ? — It does. 



