296 Transactions of the American Institute. 



Mr. Horace Greeley. — AYlien I -was a boy they used to say tliat elm 

 makes the best ash. 



Mr. H. B. Smith, of Westfield. — Ehn may be the richest in potash, 

 I tliink it is better in that respect than liickory ; but liickory has 

 more lime, and is, for some soils, superior on that account. I would 

 by all means advise Mr. Mead to make use of his old ash-lieap for 

 manure. The surface may be useless, but the interior is as good as 

 fresh. The ground below it to some depth must contain potash. 



Dr. Isaac P. Trimble. — As an illustration of how doctors disagree, 

 Professor Rogers, of I^ew Jersey, used to say our marl was valuable 

 for an ingredient. Now, Professor Cook says it is quite another con- 

 stituent that makes it so valuable a fertilizer. We have found that 

 it closely resembled the ash of straw, and we think our mai-1, bushel 

 for bushel, is about as good as leaclied ashes. 



Mr. Horace Greeley. — It makes no difference how much the doc- 

 tors differ so long as the patient improves. Marl is no doubt an. 

 incalculable blessing to South Jersey. I have used it, and found it a 

 most excellent fertilizer. 



Deep Plowing. 



This subject was brought up by the statement that a barren knoll 

 was made fertile by plowing deep. Several members dissented, and 

 said that no amount of plowing could benefit most sandy, gravely, 

 and worn out knolls. 



Mr. Greeley. — There are thousands of knolls and ridges which 

 should never be plowed at all. If, of 100 acres, twenty acres of the 

 ridges, as in many parts of the country, were planted to trees, the 

 remaining eighty acres would bring more grass, and perhaps of grain, 

 than if the whole were under cultivation. It is wonderful that people 

 will talk as they do, as if results do not follow causes ; as though 

 fifteen inches of soil were not better than five inches. I do not say 

 that this shall be buried out of reach of the plants. I insist that if 

 laud is to be cultivated it should be stirred and pulverized deep 

 enough to furnish moisture during such drouths as we are likely to 

 have every summer. I will take a stand upon the words of Whittier, 

 jeven if he is a poet : 



" I sigh no longer, for I know 

 That when the share is deepest driven 

 Tlie best fruits grow." 



Mr. Carpenter. — The best corn has its roots within six inches of the 

 flurface, and such receive great benefit from slight showers, and from 



