Proceedings of the Farmers' Club. 507 



face, and thereby secures equal moisture in times of drouth, at the 

 same time assisting the earth to absorb heavy falls of rain. As truly 

 observed by friend Greeley, that when he plowed his hillside land six 

 inches deep, large quantities of the soil were carried down by 

 lieavy rains to the brook below ; but when he plowed twelve inches 

 deep, none ran off, because the loose condition of the earth to so 

 great a depth enabled it to swallow up the heavy falls of ram. 

 In conclusion, let me say that I have seen a good crop of potatoes 

 gathered in a very dry season, fi-om a piece of trenched ground when 

 a piece beside it planted at the same time proved a complete failure. 

 I have seen a splendid crop of clover grown (without manure) on a 

 piece of land filled in with clay and sand. On a piece of new land, 

 filled in several feet with clay only, I have seen a fine crop of pota- 

 toes grown (without manure). These facts show us that deep tillage 

 secures equal moisture ; and equal moisture is sure to reward us with 

 good crops, even when rain-falls are few and far between. How to 

 secure and retain equal moisture in our cultivated soils, witli the least 

 possible cost, is a subject well worthy of deep consideration 'by all 

 tillers of the earth. 



Dr. F. M. Hexamer. — My experience in plowing has taught me to 

 go down, but to go slowly, year by year, not all at once. ISTow I 

 have a depth of about ten inches. When I have plowed deepest the 

 difference in the vigor of the growth was apparent at the distance of 

 half a mile, and the yield was a half more. The hour for adjourn- 

 ment approaches. I wish we could, in parting with this topic, give 

 the farmers of the country two or three conclusions of some practical 

 A'alue to them. May I not state them somewhat as follows : 



1. On most light soils of from three to five inches in depth, where 

 the subsoil is mellow and porous we would not advise plowing deep. 



2. But on stiff soils, w;here the subsoil is also heavy, it seems proven 

 that the farmer should carry his tillage a little lower every year until 

 his soil is at least twelve inches deep, and he need not cease his pene- 

 tration till he reaches the depth of eighteen inches. 



As to the best time for effecting this amelioration, I recommend 

 the fall for the deepest plowing. I would go down, for instance, 

 seven inches in the fall and six inches the following spring. 



Mr. J. B. Lyman. — When the committee sent to Salem county 

 made their report, portions of the soil were brought to the rooms of 

 the Institute, as also specimens of the soil and subsoil from the farm 

 of Prof. Mapes. These earths were placed in the hands of Mr. Whit- 



