218 AMERICAN POMOLOGY. 



surface soil. The two layers are thus inverted and reversed 

 at the same time, and with a proper plow, the whole soil 

 is finely comminuted and reduced to a perfect seed-bed, 

 suitable for a garden. To perform this work, the Double 

 Michigan plow is the favorite implement. It should be 

 properly constructed, for much depends upon having the 

 plow well made ; the mold-boards should be formed upon 

 the best models for their respective offices of reversing 

 the surface soil, and of upheaving and comminuting that 

 which lies below it ; and these mold-boards should be 

 made of steel. Such plows are manufactured at several 

 points, but all the Double Michigan patterns are not 

 equally good, and some are quite unsatisfactory. 



The Deep Tiller plows will do very good work in cer- 

 tain soils, and may often be used to advantage in the pre- 

 paration of the orchard grounds, either alone, or to follow 

 another plow when trench plowing is desired, and the 

 trench plow is not at hand. These plows, as made at 

 Moline, Illinois, are much used, and give great satisfaction 

 in that State. 



Subsoiling is a very useful addendum to deep plowing ; 

 its object is to stir the deep layers of the soil without 

 bringing the earth to the surface. This aerates and loosens 

 the subsoil, and thus effects the combined objects of in- 

 creasing the fertility of the land, of retaining moisture 

 for the crops, and, to a certain extent, of allowing any 

 excess of moisture to percolate away. Subsoiling is most 

 efficacious when combined with draining, but it is of great 

 use without, unless where permanent water is found near 

 the surface. There is a great improvement in the subsoil 

 plows. Those first made were provided with a share on 



