NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



131 



SUBSOIL PLOUGH. 



It is only a few years since the first subsoil plough 

 was introduced into this country ; and we had the 

 pleasure to assist at the first trial, on the farm of 

 John Fenno, Esq., in Chelsea. This plough was 

 purchased by ^Ii'. Charles P. Eosson, in England, for 

 Messrs. Kugglcs, Nourse, & Mason : it cost forty dol- 

 lars in that countrj\ 



Now, superior subsoil ploughs, may be had in this 

 country, for one fourth of the cost of that in Eng- 

 land ; and they are of greater strength, for we used 

 that plough only a short time before it was twisted 

 so that a common observer could hardly teU for what 

 purpose it was intended. 



The subsoil plough is a valuable implement on 

 many soils, by deepening the tillage and giving 

 sufficient room for the descent of the roots of plants, 

 and to promote the ascent of moisture, in dry 

 weather. 



By the use of this plough, the subsoil is loosened 

 deeply, and gradually mixed with the active soil, and 

 brought to the surface, where, by changes from the 

 air, rains, snows, and frost, it becomes improved, and 

 restores, in some measure, many ingredients that 

 have been lost from old lands. 



Numerous examples have been given to the public, 

 showing the great utility of this implement. Yet, in 

 some cases, it has been reported that there was no 

 perceptible advantage from its use, while in other 

 cases, the crops have been increased fifty per cent. 

 See the remarks of Professor Majjcs on this subject, 

 p. 138. 



DITCHING AND DRAINING. 



At the agricultural meeting, on Teusday evening, 

 this subject was discussed. 



Mr. Buckminster said, that he hired ditching 

 done by the job. He gave twonty-five cents a rod 

 for ditching three feet deep and tliree feet wide. A 

 man would make six rods of ditch in a day. He 

 usually makes ditches four rods apart, and parallel, 

 for the convenience of ploughing. 



Mr. Merriam said, that he found it necessary to 

 make ditches around the meadow, to cut off the 

 water from the high land. He preferred open to 

 blind ditches. 



Mr. A. G. Sheldon remarked, that by ditching a 

 maple swamp, the growth of trees was greatly im- 

 proved ; they declined on the ditch getting filled up, 



and revived on its being opened. In thirty years, 

 the groAvth amounted to forty cords to the acre. 



THE PEACH BUDS. 



There has been some unnecessary alarm as to the 

 peach buds, as it was stated by several speakers at the 

 agricultural meeting, that they were generally killed, 

 so far as their observations had extended ; but on 

 examination, and by inquiry from cultivators in 

 different sections, we think that more than half of 

 the peach buds are sound, and that there is a fair 

 promise of fruit. Friend Earle, of the Worcester 

 Spy, says, that from examination he thinks that two 

 thirds of the peach flowering buds are in a healthy 

 condition. 



As the past winter has been colder than the winter 

 of 1847-8, and the peach buds are killed less, the 

 argument, drawn from a partial and hasty view of 

 the subject, that it is the severe cold, and not the 

 changeable weather, that kills, falls to the ground, so 

 far as relates to the last two winters. The last win- 

 ter was noted for severe and steady cold, and its pre- 

 decessor for mildnoss and vai-iableness, during Mhich 

 the fruit buds of the peach were nearly all killed. 

 So every season affords additional evidence in sup- 

 port of the proposition which we have frequently 

 offered on this subject. 



GUTTA PERCHA FOR GRAFTING. 



At the agricultural meeting, on Tuesday evening, 

 Dr. Sanborn exhibited a preparation which he had 

 made for grafting. It was composed of gutta percha, 

 dissolved in chloroform, having the consistency of 

 thick molasses. He had used it with excellent suc- 

 cess. It is applied, in a very thin coat, with a brush. 

 As this is a new article for this purpose, and some 

 who try it may not get it of the right consistence, 

 we advise its trial at first in a small way. Dr. S. 

 remarked, that it was valuable for wounds, burnjs, 

 and sores, such as the salt rheum, &c., as a thin 

 coat protected the raw flesh from exposure, and thus 

 promoted healing. Gutta percha will prove to be a 

 valuable acquisition, both in the arts, and in med- 

 ical appliances. It is a new article, and numer- 

 ous, and varied experiments are necessary to test it 

 fairly ; and this wiU soon be done among the enter- 

 prising and ingenious. 



