No. 129.] • 389' 



My first experiraents were in 1844, and I extract the following 

 account of them from vol. 2d, (new series) of the Cultivator, ' 

 page 102, which account I furnislied to that journal at the 

 time. "I procured a subsoil plough last spring and used it 

 on three diiferent crops, viz: corn, potatoes and barley. The 

 corn was planted on a light, sandy loam, tlie potatoes on a 

 rich loam inclining to be clayey, and the barley on a rich mellow 

 loam. One-half of each field was subsoiled to the depth of eight 

 inches (below the bottom of the furrow,) the other half having 

 only an ordinary ploughing. There w^as no perceptible difference 

 in the appearance of either of the crops during the season of 

 growth, and as the difference at harvestiog, if any, was not enough 

 for us to discover it by careful observation and comparison of 

 different parts of the field, I did not think it worth while to make 

 an accurate measure of the wiiole of each division. 



I made no farther use of the subsoil plough till last year, and 

 was then induced to try it again because the theory of the bene- 

 fits derivable from it seemed to me so rational that I could hardly 

 believe I had not been misled by my own experience. I then 

 tried it on different soils, on which were cultivated tomatoes, beets, 

 melons, cabbages, potatoes and early white corn, all of which I 

 grow largely for the Philadelphia market. With most careful 

 observation I could perceive no difierence in any one of the crops, 

 between that part which was subsoiled and that which was not, 

 except in the field of corn. This contained about two acres on 

 a side hill having a south west aspect and a warm, sandy soil. 

 The whole field was heavily manured broadcast and ploughed as 

 soon as possible after manuring, and one-half of it was subsoiled 

 fifteen inches below the surface. I carefully staked the line of 

 division and labelled the stakes, that there need be no mistake 

 as to which side was subsoiled. A little manure was put in each 

 hill at the time of planting. Before the corn had attained half 

 its growth the part w^hich had not been subsoiled showed a deci- 

 ded gain on the other, and throughout the season it maintained 

 it so that the difference in the appearance of the corn could be 

 seen at a distance, and when cutting it for market the product 

 of the part which had not been subsoiled was about one-third 

 greater than the other. As last year was a wet year, I determin- 



