40 TKAlfS^CTI OK S 



PLANTATION OF T. P. HUNTINGTON. 



This plantation is beautifully situated, in Hadley, on a low range of hills, 

 running parallel to the Connecticut river, and is elevated some sixty feet 

 above it. It comprises four acres of light, sandy soil, and was planted 

 twenty-five years ago. Fiyrows, one rod apart, were plowed across the lot, 

 and one thousand locusts were set out in them. At present, the piece is 

 covered with a dense growth of white and yellow pine, with occasionally an 

 oak, a hickory and a chestnut. Many of the locusts have died, so that not 

 more than half the original number remain. These are from fiiteen to thirty 

 feet in height, and are as thrifty as could be expected on such a soil. They 

 are not very badly aifected by that scourge of the locust tribe, the borers, 

 although nearly every tree bears their mark. 



REPORT ON SUBSOIL PLOWING. 



BY S. C. WILDER. 



Notwithstanding the great importance, not to say the absolute necessity 

 of deep tillage on certain soils, to insure an abundant and paying crop, yet 

 few seem disposed fractically to believe it. They readily admit the theory, 

 but, for some unaccountable reason, they are slow to practice. We venture 

 to say, that it is impossible to reclaim, and make productive, any land, high 

 or low, marshy or otherwise, which has a hard, clayey subsoil, without 

 deep tillage. This is absolutely essential on land of this kind, if a paying 

 crop is to be obtained ; for, in no other way, oftentimes, can the surface 

 water be successfully drained off. In almost all eases, the subsoil plow will 

 drain the land more effectually than either blind or open ditches. Let thia 

 plow follow the common one, loosening the earth as far below the first fur- 

 row, as that furrow is deep ; and the entire field thus plowed is underdrain- 

 ed ; the water contained in the surface soil being received by the loosened 

 subsoil below ; and, being retained there, furnishes moisture for the growing 

 crop in time of drought. Experience has demonstrated that, on soils of the 

 kind under consideration, all crops and grasses are much benefited by sub- 

 soiling. The roots of crops go down for sustenance and moisture, as well as 

 search for them on every side. We cannot too strongly urge upon our 

 brother farmers the use of this plow, especially on hard soils. Use it for 

 spring crops, use it for winter grain, and use it if you would have good 

 meadows. - 



EXPERIMENTS BY ALBERT JIONTAGUE. ^ 



I present, for consideration, a statement of the effect of subsoil plowin;.* 

 upon three pieces of land of similar soil, and in about the same state of cul- 



