annual report—miscellaneous. 
53 
bitration. The time squandered, expenses, etc., are much less in 
the latter than in the former case. If there is an understanding 
among a community of farmers that their difficulties shall be set¬ 
tled by their friends, they often even save them that trouble and 
slight expense by getting together and settling themselves. The 
easiest and cheapest way of harmonizing differences is usually the 
best. Justice is more sure to be obtained; the ill feeling and en¬ 
mity usually engendered by law is avoided ; social relations in the 
community are maintained, and society is really elevated and im¬ 
proved. I am of the opinion that this is true reform, and that if 
carried out among the farmers of the state, the amount annually 
saved in money, to say nothing about time lost, happiness de 
stroyed, ill feelings towards neighbors engendered and a general 
lowering of the morals of the entire community, would be suffi¬ 
cient to pay the entire farm taxes of the state. This question is 
worthy the earnest thought and consideration of the entire farm¬ 
ing interest of the state. 
UNIVERSITY FARM. 
Under the above heading may be found experiments upon the 
University farm, by W. W. Baniells, M. S., Professor of Agricul¬ 
ture and Analytical Chemistry in the State University, upon the 
" improvement of soils by mechanical means.” The results ob¬ 
tained by the three years’ experiments have not proved satisfac- 
/ 
tory, as the condition of soil and season, without proper drainage, 
have been unfavorable, as clearly shown by the Professor. It 
will be seen that there was a depreciation in the product of trench 
and subsoil plowing, and a very slight increase only, where the 
soil was stirred to the depth of twelve inches, over the common 
plowing of five inches. This would probably have been very 
different had not the season been unusually wet, or had the land 
been properly drained. These experiments are of much interest, 
and should be continued for many years in succession, to establish 
facts and prove of value to the farming interest. I am of the 
opinion that under favorable conditions of drainage, beneficial and 
profitable results will follow deep tillage, at least from eight to 
twelve inches in depth. 
