Experiments in Subsoil -Ploughing and Potatoe- Planting. 245 



ment throughout. I stated that the crop of potatoes yielded 12 

 tons per acre, and was nearly equal in both parts of the field ; 

 but that^ in the course of winter, the part where Mr. Smith's 

 plough had been used appeared to me to lie more dry, and to be 

 more mellow. 



In spring this field was sown with oats and grass-seeds, by 

 the tenant, under the superintendence of my agent. The quan- 

 tity of seed sown per acre, and the general treatment of the 

 whole field, were the same. The summ.er has been unusually 

 wet; yet the crop was excellent, and the grass-seeds are most 

 promising. 



One quarter of an acre was accurately measured off on that 

 part of the field where Mr. Smith's subsoil-plough had been 

 used : the produce was thrashed separately by hand, and yielded 

 13 imperial bushels ; equal to 6 quarters 4 bushels to the 

 statute acre. 



A nother quarter of an acre was measured off on that portion of 

 the field where trench-ploughing had been used, and where the 

 subsoil had been brought to the top. This quarter of an acre 

 yielded 1 1 imperial bushels of oats ; equal to 5 quarters 4 bushels 

 to the statute acre. 



Thus the measure of the corn produced by the land where 

 Mr. Smith's plough was used is one-sixth more than the produce 

 of the land which was trench-ploughed. 



The oats are potatoe-oats, of superior quality, in both cases ; 

 but the weight of the imperial bushel from the subsoiled land is 3 

 stones, while the weight of the imperial bushel from the trenched 

 land is 3 stones and 1 lb. : thus, the weight from the trenched 

 land is greater per bushel, but by no means equal to countervail 

 the deficiency of quantity. 



When it is remembered that the outlay on this land was 

 Ql. 18s. 4d. per acre, and that, 2 years ago, before it was drained, 

 the rental was only 4s. 6d, per acre, it is clear that the value of 

 this single crop not only repays the whole cost of the improve- 

 ment, but is more than the fee-simple value of the land before it 

 was improved. 



In addition to this experiment I have had another year's ex- 

 perience of the effects of the subsoil-plough. I am confirmed in 

 my opinion of its excellence ; and the ploughmen, who at first 

 were prejudiced against it, and condemned it as unwieldv, be- 

 cause it is a heavy and troublesome implement, now readily admit 

 its usefulness, and concur with me in preferring it to trenching. 



I am quite satisfied that the use of the subsoil-plough is no less 

 applicable to dry land than to wet : on wet land it increases and 

 ensures the operation of the drains ; but, on all land, by loosen- 

 ing the sub-stratum, it adds to the effective depth of the soil. 



