1840.] SENATE— No. 36. 213 



Will this sub-soil ploughing apply to all species of soils ? — I have 

 never yet seen any soil that it would not apply to. 



The most retentive stiff soil 1 — Yes ; and the deep bog as well. 



Mr. Dtnison. After breaking up the sub-soil, but without turning 

 it up to ihe top, suppose the farmer was to continue to plough it seven 

 or eight inches, in that case how long do you think the operation on 

 the sub-soil would remain effectual, or how soon do you suppose it 

 would run together again? — I think it wozild never run together in a 

 solid form, because, token it has been turned up there is a constant cir- 

 culation of the water and the air, which prevents running together 

 again ; and token soil is laid in a dry position and exposed to the at- 

 mosphere, it stems to get some sort of attractive quality ; if you look at 

 any mould you will find that it is all in little globules, and those are 

 gathered together in large masses, forming larger globules which keep 

 the soil open. 



Do you think that the mere operation of allowing water and air to 

 pass among the soil at a considerable depth in the ground would, to 

 a certain degree, produce that effect upon solid clay of converting it 

 partially into soil ? — I think it would. 



3Ir. Lock. What was the nature of that soil which you said was 

 covered with bent before you ploughed it up ? — A great part of it I 

 did not think worth more than 5s. an acre. 



In consequence of what you have done to it, what is it worth now? 

 — I consider that it is worth 2/. an acre to any farmer. 



What was the course of cropping that you adopted in the improve- 

 ment of land? — At first I was rather undecided with regard to the ro- 

 tation I should follow, till from observation I formed a judgment what 

 was the best course. The mode of rotation I generally followed was 

 this: I drain always, if possible, in the lay or grass, because by drain- 

 ing in the lay the work is more neatly done ; then having completed 

 the drains, I take a crop of oats the next year. Upon the greater part 

 of that farm I have been obliged to plough very shallow furrows for 

 the first crop, because there was not more than three or four inches of 

 soil that I dared turn up ; then I took a crop of oats, and upon some 

 of the fields I had not more than from 24 to 30 bushels of oats. After 

 the separation of that first crop from the ground, I applied the sub- 

 soil plough. Then I gave it another ploughing, and had a green crop ; 

 potatoes upon some parts, and turnips upon others. 



Could you have attempted any of those crops previous to the sub- 

 soil ploughing ? — Not to advantage. 



