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XXIII. — Second Report of several Operations in Thorough^ 

 Draining and Subsoil- Ploughing, at Oakley Park. — From 

 Mr. Richard White. — Communicated by the Hon. Robert 

 Henry Clive^ M.P. 



To the Hon. Robert Henry Clive, M.P. 



Sir, 



In my report to you, in February last, upon what had been 

 effected by thorough- draining and subsoil-ploughing upon the 

 farm in your own occupation, and in that report I stated that I 

 had no doubt I should be able to lay before you the future pro- 

 ceedings with a favourable result. I will now endeavour to give 

 you the full particulars in as explicit a manner as I can ; but, 

 previous to going into that detail^ I beg to explain why I did not give 

 you an account of the expence attending the subsoil-ploughing ; 

 viz., that I had not then clearly ascertained what that might be, 

 owing to the method of working it. I first commenced with 

 swingle-trees and eight horses, from which I found great diffi- 

 culty, from the leading horses causing great pressure on the backs 

 of the foot horses. After this trial, the tumbril- wheels were re- 

 sorted to, which did better, but not satisfactory, as this method 

 caused one set of horses to walk upon the land done : it then 

 struck me that double shafts, with low wheels, would obviate all 

 those difficulties. I have now adopted this method, and I am 

 more fully enabled to give you a statement of the expence, which 

 I will attach to the abstract of last year ; from which I think it 

 will enable you to judge the part or portion a landlord and tenant 

 ought each to bear ; and, as the opinions have varied so much as 

 to the easiest and most effectual method of working it, I am 

 induced to send you herewith a drawing, showing the manner in 

 which the plough is worked, with a reference. Six horses are 

 invariably used ; and I now estimate the expence of the six horses 

 at 3s. 6d. per day, each ; and that 1 acre per day is done : so that, 

 1 guinea per acre is added to the expence of draining, getting 

 stone, &c. The land subsoiled is not trod upon by any of the 

 horses ; and only one of the horses of the pair in the plough that 

 precedes the subsoil-plough walks in the furrow, and one wheel 

 goes on the land done, which I consider does no injury whatever : 

 and this method appears to be generally approved of by those 

 persons who have seen it work ; and although I gave a description 

 in my last report,* I think the drawing will show it more distinctly. 



I now beg to go on with the result from last February ; and, to 

 makd it quite clear, I shall introduce the abstract of that parti- 

 cular, and go through it by taking the separate fields, and report 

 to you the success, also the addition of what has been drained 



* Journal, Part I., page 35. 



