202 THE CULTIVATOR. July 
what effect has deep plowing had on various soils and 
crops?” Upon reading over the several communica¬ 
tions in answer to this inquiry, and as connected with 
it, the use of the subsoil plow, it will be noticed that 
the general answer is that the several individuals plow 
to the depth of from five to seven inches, in one in¬ 
stance I believe to twelve; and that all speak in gene¬ 
ral terms of deep plowing as beneficial, I think without 
one dissenting voice. But it must be observed that in 
no instance does any one give this opinion as the result 
of careful investigation, founded on a set of experi¬ 
ments intended, as far as can be done, to settle this 
question. They simply state it as a conviction founded 
on general observation. The conclusion drawn is 
probably correct; it is so at least as far as the observa¬ 
tion of one of the committee has gone. It is only to 
be wished, from the importance of the interest involved, 
that the difference in results of produce from shallow 
or deep plowing, wide or narrow furrows, one or re¬ 
peated plowings, and the plowing up every inch of 
ground, or the leaving half a dozen or more baulks in 
each furrow, had not been oftener or more satisfactorily 
tested, and the entire farming community informed of 
the result, and thus enabled to make up their minds on 
the best mode, and then adopt it. 
In American farming, it is unfortunate for our inte¬ 
rests that this subject is yet so imperfectly understood, 
and that upon the community as a mass, the best mode 
has not long since been settled, for we see it practised 
in all its variety, and it appears to at least one of the 
committee that shallow furrows have a decided advan¬ 
tage as to the quantity of land plowed. But is it rea¬ 
sonable that if we are to stir the ground at all, it is not 
good sense and good farming too, to stir it deep and stir 
it well? We revolt at the idea of sowing without 
plowing, because the practice has not only been handed 
down from remote antiquity as essential to the growth 
of plants, but not to do it is repugnant to common sense. 
Does not the same good sense tell us that if it is neces¬ 
sary to loosen the soil imperfectly for the benefit of 
growing plants, it is more useful to do it in the best I 
possible manner; to stir every part of it and make it 
as light and loose as possible? By doing bo we give to 
the roots of plants a facility of throwing out their root¬ 
lets in every direction; we give them a chance of ab¬ 
sorbing all the juices that are in the earth intended for 
their benefit, of permitting the air to enter the loose 
soil, and make it more friable; of aiding the rains and 
dews to penetrate easily and quickly; and if it is a soil 
that holds water to open the earth to permit it to pass 
off and not injure the growiug plants. These are surely 
benefits that must have fallen under the observation of 
every practical farmer, and every encroachment upon 
them has been visited by corresponding loss. In the 
nature of things it must be so, for it is the dictate, not 
only of common sense, but common observation. Are 
not these the data which ought to govern us in the 
practice of this important branch of husbandry; and 
can any man be a good farmer without he follows out 
these suggestions? For surely if it is necessary to do it 
at all, it is indispensible to entire success to do it in the 
most perfect manner. We are not generally careful 
enough in the selection of our plows, plowmen and 
teams, for remember all our success as men and citi¬ 
zens depends mainly upon the manner in which this 
operation of farming is carried out. They who do it 
the best must be the most successful, and those who do 
it most imperfectly the least thrifty. Our greatest fault 
is, we are too much in a hurry with the team, which 
is usually too light. It is seldom we stop for baulks or 
to remove ohstacles, but good farming will not allow 
this. Our great object is to mellow the ground per¬ 
fectly. To do this a baulk must never be made, or if 
made inadvertently, go back and take it up. We must 
plow deeply if we wish the roots to penetrate deeply, 
and take narrow furrows if we intend to turn the entire 
surface. This is the practice through all the best cul¬ 
tivated parts of Europe, for a furrow from ten to four¬ 
teen inches wide is never seen there. From six to 
seven inches is the width of the fujrow slice, and it is 
as uniform as a good tool, a powerful team, and the 
best plowman can make it. The earth is not thrown 
over in masses to remain as compact and adhering as 
the simple turning over without breaking up the soil 
will effect, but the process of plowing pulverizes the 
soil and opens it. Now, is not one such plowing worth 
more to the growing plant than two or three* Where 
from twelve to eighteen inch furrows are cut at a slice? 
In the last there is a mass so large as to remain undis¬ 
turbed, except simply so far as the turning over is con¬ 
cerned, whilst the other being a smaller quantity will 
more naturally fall to pieces. Why do we summer 
fallow, but to give the field the benefit of repeated 
plowings, thus loosening perfectly every part of it, and 
permitting every particle of earth to be acted on by the 
rains, the dews, and the influence of light and warmth? 
The effect of all this stirring is observable upon the 
seed put into the ground, for all have observed that the 
grain sown in a fallowed field will germinate several 
days quicker than on one where only one plowing has 
been practised, and the growing plant will maintain its 
superiority for a long subsequent time. It is to be 
hoped, therefore, that our farmers will turn their atten¬ 
tion to this important subject, and give us the result of 
some well conducted experiments, which will estab¬ 
lish the difference in product between a well stirred or 
an imperfectly plowed field. Of so much importance 
is this subject regarded in Europe, that experiments are 
there in process of execution to ascertain how far spade 
husbandry as a farming operation will compare with 
that where the plow is used; and as far as we are in¬ 
formed, although the expense is much greater, a cor¬ 
responding increase of crop has nevertheless uniformly 
been the result. Indeed, the experimenters have been 
induced to carry out their plans and continue the sys¬ 
tem. Their more numerous population gives them 
much greater facilities than we enjoy, and they have 
established the great practical truth, that a deep and 
perfectly stirred soil is an essential element of a far¬ 
mer’s success. 
No one of our several correspondents upon farm 
management acknowledges the use of the subsoil plow; 
it really appears, to at least one of the committee, that 
to follow the fii-st furrow with another team drawing 
the subsoil plow, and farther deepening it from eight to 
ten inches, whilst it does not bring this soil to the sur¬ 
face, must be extremely beneficial to all of our root 
crops, and might be serviceable to corn. It opens the 
soil where required, together with the ordinary plow', 
eighteen inches, and thus permits the roots of all plants 
to penetrate deep, at the same time that it lets off any 
superfluous or standing water. Good farming must 
hereafter require the use of this excellent implement in 
many soils, and the benefits to be derived from it are 
yet to be more carefully ascertained; but it certainly 
promises to be one of incomparable value to the farmer. 
The subject of plowing is a fruitful theme to descant 
upon for an observing man, fond of the cultivation of 
the earth. But as there ai’e yet many other topics to be 
touched upon, each of great importance to the farmer, 
the committee will forego any further remark on this 
branch of the subject, but simply will say that the plow 
for the last six or eight years has received in its con¬ 
struction such impoi'tant impi-ovements as will amply 
compensate for all the trouble and expense our state and 
county fail's have ever cost. It is competition that has 
brought them for exhibition hundreds of miles to our 
fairs, and this exhibition and competition have been the 
cause of the improved construction of the instrument. 
One fault now is, that they plow too wide. Remedy 
that evil and they will compare for execution with any 
plows ever made. 
The next class of queries is on the subject of manures, 
(viz.) “ How many loads of manure (30 bushels to the 
load) do you usually apply to the acre.” “How do 
you manage your manux-e? is it kept under cover? how 
much do you manufacture? how much apply? of what 
kind? fermented or unfermented?” &c., &c. This branch 
of agriculture is of no less importance than the one 
upon which the committee have already at some length 
commented, and is equally deserving of all the conside¬ 
ration that the farmer can bestow upon this part of his 
