20. agricultural report. [1 349, 35t). 35 1 , :$.Vz* 



loam stratum is nearly or entirely wanting, while the roots of the trees hury 

 themselves in the calcareous silt. The latter then forms the arable soil, to 

 which an application of lime would be perfectly useless. (See " Southern 

 River Counties.") 



349. These examples may suffice to show that while in the forest, trees, we 

 possess trustworthy guides to a knowledge of the character of the material in 

 which their roots are buried, it is quite essential to convince ourselves at the 

 same time, by inspection, that it is the arable soil itself, and not merely the sub- 

 soil, which is thus characterized ; and we should especially make sure that the 

 smaller plants, viz : the shrub* and perennials, corroborate the evidence of the 

 trees. Annuals are less reliable in their indications, because their development 

 is to a greater extent influenced by the accidental circumstances of the seasons. 



350. Subsoils. — If the term soil, as to its practical import; is dependent on 

 the kind of vegetable under consideration, the same is true, no less, with 

 reference to the subsoil, which is necessarily dependent on the; first. In the 

 common parlance of the agriculturist, however, who considers them chiefly 

 with reference to the plants he cultivates, and his means of tillage, they assume 

 a definite meaning in that he designates as soil, whatsoever he usually turns over 

 with his plow, and as subsoil what lies beneath. It is evident that inasmuch as, 

 in this country, the depth of tillage varies, on the same kind of land, from 3 to 

 12 inches, that to use the term in that sense, would be to deal with an idea 

 absolutely shapeless and intangible, unless referred to the practice of some par- 

 ticular individual. 



In collecting specimens of soil for chemical analysis, which is to serve as the 

 basis of a rational treatment of the soils in question, it is evidently of the last 

 importance that these circumstances should be taken into consideration, and that 

 a rational and uniform rule be adhered to in reference to the distinction between 

 the soil and subsoil. 



351. Examination of mils. — In the large majority of cases we find, in ex- 

 amining soils in their natural place, that a sensible change in the character of the 

 material occurs at a moderate depth, say from three to twelve inches — about the 

 same as the usual range of the plow. If, therefore, as a rule, in speaking of 

 virgin soils, we designate as soil, the surface layer down to the point where a 

 perceptible change takes place, and as subsoil, what lies beneath, we shall in most 

 cases find these subdivisions to co-incide with what, in a proper system of 

 tillage, becomes the soil and subsoil in the sense of the agriculturist. 



In the soils of the Prairies, " Flatwoods,'' Sea-coast Marshes, as well as in 

 those of many of our larger bottoms, frequently no perceptihle change of 

 material occurs at a less depth than from IS to 30 inches, and sometimes more. 

 In such cases the subsoil proper is oftentimes of little importance to the agricul- 

 turist ; it will be sufficient for him to be made acquainted with the properties of 

 his soil proper, and with the fact that it is the same as far as his plow reaches ; 

 or in other words, that his subsoil (in the agricultural sense) is the same as his soil. 

 In such cases, as a rule, I have taken a specimen from the surface to the depth of 

 twelve inches ; and mostly also a specimen of the subsoil proper, at whatever 

 depth it may occur. The latter specimen is not necessarily intended to be 

 analyzed ; an examination of its physical properties may be important with 

 reference to drainage, resistance of the land to drouth, etc. 



352. On the other hand, when the surface layer is of no greater thickness 

 than a few inches, it would be useless to examine that layer by itself, inasmuch 

 as no one would be likely to restrict himself to such shallow culture ; the tillage 

 would necessarily mingle with it a few inches at least of the subsoil. 



Presuming that culture to a depth less than six inches, can hardly lay claim 

 to being rational, I have adopted as a rule, to take no specimen of soil shallower 

 than the above ; save, perhaps, in some particular instances in which a great and 

 important difference between the two layers renders a knowledge of then- pecu- 

 liarities specially desirable. In all these cases, specimens of the subsoils have 



