Proceedings of the Farmers' Club. 611 



verized the more readily and efficiently it will imbibe moisture from 

 the earth beneath and from the atmosphere, which is often buried 

 ■when the clouds give no rain. Equal benefits result from lands eo 

 tilled in times of heavy rains. It is a known fact that deep soils 

 soonest relieve themselves of superfluous moisture, hence we may 

 conclude that they are best for preserving a uniform degree of 

 humidity. Can it be wondered then that the advantages of deep 

 plowing or of subsoiling are yearly gaining more favor wherever 

 their benefits have been tested ? {Ag. Rep. 1852,^. 152.) 



4. New yor^.— Charles Lee, of Yates county, says : Deeper plow- 

 ing and more thorougli tillao-e are graduallv on the advance in west- 

 ern Kew Tork, taking it as a district. {,A.g. Rep. 1849, p. 104.) 

 Da\dd McVean, of Monroe count}-, says : When the oak openings 

 were first broken up, it was not found advisable to plow very deep, 

 or not more so than was necessary to get under the roots of grass 

 and brush, which was about four inches. But, as the land became 

 exhausted at, the surface from continued cultivation, it has been 

 found necessary to deepen the furrow gradually to seven or eight 

 inches, and even to ten inches. ' And as the lime and salts become 

 exhausted on the surface, a supply is sought in the subsoil for the 

 wants of the crops. {Ag. Rep. 1850, p. 470.) 



5. Pennsylvania. — William G. Waring, of Centre county, says : 

 Our most successful farmers now plow from six to eight inches deep ; 

 but many are discouraged from deep plowing both by the heavy 

 texture of that soil and the bad results which usually follow from 

 bringing up a thick layer of clay at once. The subsoil plow has 

 scarcely been introduced. It would seem useful in breaking up the 

 subsoil and preparing it for the surface. If brought to the surface 

 raw and fresh it bakes, and, becoming impervious to air, the plants 

 growing in it perish. {Ag. Rep. 1851, p. 241.) Dr. Joseph Hen- 

 derson, of Miiflin county, says : A clover sod is turned down for 

 wheat in April or May, with a three-horse plow, as deep as it can be 

 well laid over. {Ag. Rep. 1851, ^:». 245.) David Mumma, of Dau- 

 phin county, says: All good farmers prefer plowing as deep as they 

 can without turning up the subsoil. The average depth is about 

 eight inches. {Ag. Repj. 1851, j9. 254.) 



6. Ohio. — Benjamin Summers, of Erie county, says : Deep ploAving 

 is found beneficial, as the subsoil is generally composed of all the 

 materials for promoting the growth of vegetation, and only needs 

 exposing to the action of the elements to fit it for that purpose. 



