Proceedings of the Farmers' Club. 325 



ing, and advocated the feasibility and the necessity of deep culture 

 of the soil even to "eighteen inches," or more, as a source of recu- 

 peration and improvement. 



Mr. P. T. Quinn and Mr. A. S. Fuller and others, sustained this 

 side of the question ; but Mr. Quinn showed that ten inches is deep 

 culture, and expensive at that. He insisted, however, that heavy 

 manuring, even to 100 loads to the acre, was necessary to invigorate 

 such deep turned earth. 



Doctor Isaac P. Trimble and others, on the contrary, cite the 

 •experience of great numbers of the successful farmers in New Jersey, 

 to show that from four to five inches tilth is all that is required, and 

 far better than ten or more inches ; and that even six inches is too 

 deep culture for profit. The doctor brings an array of facts and 

 figures to sustain his side of the question, which really become 

 formidable arguments. 



Mr. Peters inquires "What, in the opinion of the Club, constitutes 

 deep culture," and offers a resolution to test their judgment upon 

 the subject, declaring that all over seven inches should be regarded 

 deep culture, and under five, shallow. The Club had no opinion to 

 stake on the question, and therefore laid the resolution on the table 

 by a decided vote, thus ending a discussion that had lasted more 

 than six months, without arriving at a definite conclusion upon any 

 ■question involved, unless by inference. It was that the deeper the 

 culture the greater the necessity for manure, and the larger the 

 quantity required, which, connected with the fact that all ordinary 

 farming is dependent upon the means of accumulating manure from 

 the products at home and the farm, and therefore limited, and thus 

 forbidding Mr. Quinn's suggestions, except near large cities. This 

 goes far to sustain shallow culture, altliough contrary to general and 

 well received theory. 



Who can state definitely., from absolute and M'ell directed experi- 

 ment, and positive knowledge, the best and most economical means 

 for producing, preparing and applying the manurial products of a 

 farm, the value, and best method, and time for applying wood and 

 <joal ashes, lime, salt, plaster, charcoal, &c. ? How far may under- 

 draining and irrigation be carried to profit on difierent soils? Are 

 the common plow and harrow beyond question the best instruments 

 for working and preparing the soil for crops ? Who can answer and 

 ■show, by established facts, that they know f 



At a late annual exhibition of the State Agricultural Society, 



