Improvement of Poor Lands by Subsoil- Ploughing. 257 



different parts, to collect and to put the potatoes into the baskets 

 (placing a basket between each pair), and two men to take away 

 the baskets when filled^ and empty them into a cart ready to 

 receive them. 



Any person is most welcome to have a model of any instru- 

 ment of mine which they may deem worthy of their attention. 



I am. Sir, 



Yours, &c. 6cc. 



Edward Stracey. 



Rackheath Hall, near Nonvich, 

 September, 1839. 



XXV. — Experiments on the Improvement of Poor Lands by Sub- 

 soil-Ploughing, both with and ivithout Under draining. — By The 

 Rev. W. L. Rham, M.A., Vicar of Winkfleld. 



To the Secretary of the English Agricultural Society. 



Sir, 



A s it is of more importance to the progress of agriculture to have 

 Avell- authenticated facts, and accurate details of different modes of 

 cultivation, than mere theoretical speculations, I venture to lay 

 before the English Agricultural Society the result of two Expe- 

 riments, made with considerable attention to every circumstance 

 which might influence the result. 



I. The first which I shall mention may be found interesting at 

 this moment in consequence of its throwing some light on the use 

 of the subsoil-plough, which, although by no means a new inven- 

 tion, has lately been strongly recommended on particular soils, 

 not without some discussions as to its merits, and doubts of its 

 general usefulness. 



The field which was the subject of the experim.ent was once a 

 portion of the open common in the forest of Windsor, and brought 

 into cultivation soon after the inclosure of the forest in 1813. 

 Its soil consisted of a very moderate loam,, inclined to yellow 

 clay, only a few inches in depth ; the subsoil chiefly a stiff clay, 

 but with occasional portions of a very gravelly loam, nearly im- 

 pervious to water. The surface is slightly undulated, and suffi- 

 ciently inclined to let off the surface-water by means of open 

 drains. It was first brought into cultivation by paring and burn- 

 ing the surface ; and no very regular rotation of crops was fol- 

 low^ed. The first crop was turnips, broadcast ; a very good crop, 

 in consequence of the ashes. After this had been fed off by sheep, 

 came oats ; a good crop. It was then chalked, at the rate of about 

 15 tumbrel-loads to the acre, and manured with good dung, 6 



