246 AGRICULTURAL REPORT. [T504, 505, 506, 507 



injurious effects of extremes both of wet and drouth; facilitates the penetration of 

 the soil by the roots, affording them, at the same time, a wider range wherein to 

 seek their nourishment. In this general point of view, little more need be 

 observed in regard to this operation, than that it should not be practiced, 

 where there is danger of breaking through the retentive strata into loose sands, 

 which would allow manures to sink (1T401) 



But whether or not it may be useful in any particular case to turn up the 

 subsoil, is dependent entirely upon local circumstances, and cannot be decided 

 without a close examination, and frequently not without analyses of the soil and 

 subsoil. 



504. When the soil itself is so deep that the plow cannot conveniently go 

 beyond the soil stratum, then in fact, subsoiling means nothing else than deep 

 plowing ; while, whenever it goes beyond, turning up the subsoil, it is subsoil- 

 ing, properly speaking (ir350,ff). We must recollect in this case, as in that of man- 

 ures proper, that when we mix the subsoil with the soil, two different kinds of 

 effects will be produced. In the first place, the subsoil may act as a mechanical 

 manure, by improving the physical condition of the soil ; by rendering it lighter, if 

 heavy, or heavier, iftoo light (l[418). The latter case is very common, viz : that a 

 heavy subsoil clay underlies a very light soil, and that tho latter is very much 

 improved by intermixture with the former, though it may not be richer ia 

 nutritive ingredients. — The former case — a light subsoil underlying a heavy 

 soil — is much less common, and in this State, almost entirely confined to bottom, 

 pond, and some Marsh soils. 



505. Secondly, the subsoil may act as a chemical manure (H"416), by adding 

 to the stock of nutritive ingredients within reach of the roots of plants, when- 

 ever it is richer in these than the surface soil ; either naturally, or inconse- 

 quence of the exhaustion of the latter by cropping. 



To determine whether in any particular case, subsoiling may be advisable or 

 not, is oftentimes a question very difficult of decision, unless by actual 

 experiment, or more briefly, by analysis. Yet even the latter is not always a 

 safe guide, unless accompanied by observation on the spot, the of circumstance* 

 nnder which the soil and subsoil occur. 



506. Treatment of Subsoilcd Lands. — It is essential to recollect, that, how- 

 ever nearly analyses may show the two materials to be alike in ultimate 

 composition, the subsoil will almost invariably differ from the soil in two 

 respects, viz : 1st. In containing less vegetable matter than the latter. 2d. In 

 containing its nutritive ingredients in a loss available condition, on account of 

 being so little accessible to atmospheric action, and also, to that of decaying 

 vegetable matter (H357, 422). 



It is owing to these causes, that during tho first season, subsoiling often seems 

 to produce none, or even an unfavorable effect. For so long as tho nutritive 

 matter contained is in an inactive condition, it follows that for the time 

 being, it must exercise the same effect as though we had mixed with the surface 

 soil a subsoil of inferior fertility, which would naturally deteriorate it. 



The remedy, therefore, is simple enough. After subsoiling, we must try to 

 supply as rapidly as possible the deficiency of vegetable matter, either by plow- 

 ing in green crops, or by manuring with muck, sawdust and the like ; and we 

 must, if possible, stimulate it by the use of lime, plaster of Paris, or ammoni- 

 acal manures, as the case ma v require. Moreover, here, as almost every where, 

 stable manure is in its right place. But wherever there is no stringent necessity 

 for ocupying the subsoiled land with heavy crops the first year, it is best to 

 allow them a season of rest or fallowing, with light crops, such as wheat or 

 rye; after which, the stimulants will be found less necessary. 



507. Whenever no serious change of the physical condition (as to lightness or 

 heaviness) is to be anticipated in consequence of the intermixture of soil and 

 subsoil, the question is reduced simply to tho inquiry whether or not the subsoil 

 is equally fertile, or more, or less so, than the soiL In this case, analysis will 



