212 APPENDIX. [March, 



After the sub-soil has been brought into a proper degree of prepar- 

 ation for vegetation, have you ever tried the experiment of bringing 

 in a certain proportion, say a fourth part of the sub-soil after it is 

 prepared, into Qo-operation with the active soil 1 — I have, and it an- 

 swers very well. 



Do you consider that the bringing into play the whole of the sub- 

 soil at once is a better thing and more productive than holding in re- 

 serve a portion of the sub-soil ? — I think it is. 



After turning up the sub-soil, how many years have you grown 

 crops upon it 1 — My mode of cropping is a seven years' shift, and I 

 have now four fields undergoing a second shift. 



Have you had the experience of what the condition of the previous 

 active soil becomes, from being in a state of rest for several years ? — 

 It is all mixed together. 



Then the effect of your system is to produce a new soil instead of 

 the old one I — Yes. 



Mr. De7ii$on. According to your plan, supposing you were not 

 to have turned up any of this sub-soil, but merely to have had your 

 sub-soil plough pass through it, and were to go on cultivating with- 

 out any thins being turned up to the top, instead of producing steril- 

 ity, would even that produce an improvement of the crop ? — It would, 

 and a continued improvement. 



After getting upon land that has been sub-soil ploughed, and then 

 ploucrhing it up again, do you find that the sub-soil continues fria- 

 ble? — I do to the bottom. 



With strong tenacious soils you do not find that it is run together 

 again ? — No. 



Mr. Hcathcote. You have no furrows, and you plough IG inches 

 deep in all parts of the farm 1 — Yes. 



Do you find that the water stands at the bottom of the furrow any 

 lentrth of time before it gets into the drain? — I do not think it does, 

 but I cannot see the bottom of the furrow. 



When you turn it up how do you find it? — I find it particularly 

 dry, and sometimes, where the land has been poached in consequence 

 of takinw off a green crop, still it is perfectly dry at the bottom of 

 the furrow. 



You do not find that the treading of horses has any effect upon 

 it at that depth ? — None whatever ; the effect of the most thorough 

 poaching does not go beyond six inches, and below that it is found 

 quite dry. 



