1508, 509, 510] subsoiling. 247 



give a categorical answer. If the subsoil, while similar in its physical condition 

 to the soil, is similar to it in composition also, with only the differences produced 

 by their relative position (If500): then sub>oiling will, in matter of fact, mean 

 little else than deep plowing. If the subsoil is poorer than the surface soil, then 

 it will manifestly be inadvisable to dilute the latter, as it were, by the admixture 

 of inert matter without a corresponding addition of nutritive ingredients. If on 

 the other hand, the subsoil is richer in the latter than the surface soil, subsoiling 

 is, as manifestly, indicated as advantageous. 



As instances in which the physical condition of soils will be very littlo changed 

 by subsoiling, I may mention, most of the soils of the main Pontotoc Ridge ; 

 the Marshall county Table lands; and the majority of the yellow loam lands of 

 Yallabusha, Holmes and Madison counties ; also, to a great extent, the prairies. 

 In these cases, therefore, simple comparative analyses of the soils and subsoils 

 will decide as to the usefulness or injuriousness of subsoiling, in the sense of 

 turning up the subsoil. 



508. When, as in a large number, perhaps the majority of cases, an essential 

 change in the physical character of the soil may be produced by subsoiling, the 

 question whether it be profitable or not, becomes a much more difficult one, and 

 cannot be answered in a general manner. For while on the one hand, we may 

 derive from it double advantages, if it should happen both tocorrectthe physical 

 condition of our soil, and to add to its stock of fertility ; it may, on the other 

 hand, utterly and irrecoverably ruin our land, if the change produced with 

 respect to lightness or heaviness, should happen to fall in the wrong direction. 

 In this case, even a greater native fertility of the subsoil would be of little use. 

 "Whenever a soil possesses the proper physical constitution, however poor 

 naturally, it is susceptible of improvement at least, and thus far valuable. But 

 if its physical properi ies be extremes on either side (whether naturally or in 

 consequence of injudicious subsoiling), the soil will always be an unsafe one, no 

 matter how great its stock of nutritive elements, and whether native or super- 

 added in the shape of manures. [With reference to this subject, see If 401 to 

 403]. 



509. Cases in point are far from uncommon in this State, and that with 

 reference to both extremes of constitution. Among light soils, which would be 

 rendered still lighter, and would, therefore, be injured by subsoiling, I may 

 mention, most of the hommock soils of the Sea coast, a large poition of the 

 ridge soils of Kemper, Lauderdale and Jasper counties, and a large part of 

 bottom soils, e. g., those of upper and middle Pearl River. Of those which, being 

 sufficiently heavy in themselves, would be rendered excessively so by the 

 admixture of their subsoil, the heavy Platwoods soils, and a large portion of our 

 prairie soils (especially those overlying the Tertiary, in South Mississippi), are 

 examples ; also, the bottom soils of the lower Pearl, and lower Pascagoula 

 Rivers. 



510. Light Subsoils. — Tn some cases, especially of sandy soils, there is, at times, 

 still another objection, of a serious character, to subsoiling. One of the most 

 important advantages of a good subsoil is that it prevents the " sinking" of 

 manure, i. e., of the soluble portion of it, to a depth beyond the reach of the 

 roots of cultivated plants. It does this, not only by virtue of its density, but 

 also, and perhaps chiefly, in consequence of its possessing the strong retentive 

 power ^ which has been discussed before, 1f378, ft'.) both for moisture and for the 

 nutritive ingredients of plants. Hence the great importance which is justly 

 attached to the question, whether or not any tract of land possesses a sulwoil of 

 the proper physical constitution. For even if the surface soil should happen to 

 be so light that it would not ordinarily retain a supply of manure nioie than 

 sufficient for a single crop, still, if the subsoil be capable of retaining it, the land 

 is susceptible of permanent improvement ; because the nutritive elements thus 

 retained are not allowed to pass beyond the reach of the roots of plant*. — Such 

 s the case with a /arge part of the " Piny Woods" region of South Mississippi. 



