Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1845-09-25
Aaritnltnral.
SUBSOIL PLOUGHING.

remarks in reference to subsoil ploughing
"Allow me for moment TO ask your attention
10 the su5sOH plough, with which presume you
are but little IL any acquainted Although known
for years in Europe, and in some parts Of our own
country, am not aware that il has been much used
here. II is made to follow in the lurrow directly
after the common surface plough, loosening and
moving the earth to the depth Of six eight inches
below the first furrow, without bringing any part
of il to the surface. The advantage to be derived
from such loosening is, that the superintendent
moisture settles down 10 the bottom of the furrow,
and there is constant operation of the atmos-
pherc, which gradually converts il into productive
soil. 1t thus produces all the benefits of deep
ploughing, without the disadvantage of the admix-
ture Of an undue proportion of unproductye in
gradients in the soil. The soil thus moved will az
ford space for the extension Of the roots or fbres
Of the plants, SO that in seasons Of drought they
will be less likely to fail. And the ultimate conse-
quence will be, if the land is properly MANFRED. an
additional depth TO the soil-say instead Of or
inches, there will be found 10 or ~ inches. For
root crops, and many others, such an alteration
must be Of great value. Where this process Of sub
soil ploughng has been tried for number of years
successfully, and the subsoil has been gradually
mixing with the upper soil, the whole has been
found so completely changed as TO be capable Of
producing crops that could not before have been
cultivated to any advantage.
Mr.. Phinney, Of Lexington, TO whom the agri-
cultural community are under great obligations, for
his numerous and well Conducted experiments. par
ticularly those in the management of grass lands,
first brought the subsoil plough into in this vi
cinty, about three or four years since. The pat
tern then used has been much improved by differ
ent manufacturers-some specimens of which have
this day been exhibited and tried. Mr.. Phinney,
who has used this plough on many acres of his
own farm, informed me that the productive quality
of his soil for many crops, had been increased fifty
per cent. by its use. On question of practical
cultivation, there is mans opinion more worthy
of regard"
The following note is appended to the above j
In recent letter received from Mr.. Phinney, he
says: 81 have used the subsoil plough some three
or four years, and such is the estimate in which
hold this important implement, that should con-
slider it great piece of improvidence to put in
crop without first subsoiing the ground The
character of our soil and climate are both such
being subject to the extremes of wet and dry-as
to render the use Of this subsoil plough of more
essential benefit here than in England, and il one
half the effects from its use, said to be produced
in that country, realized here, farmer should
be without subso plough. The subsraum with
us is either hard gravel or clay Both are great
ly benefited by the use of this plough In case of
too much wet, the redundancy of water is absorb
ed by loosening the subso-when too dry, the
plants can find support by being enabled to extend
their roots deeper in search Of moisture Our
crops, particularly potatoes and other root
crops. as they are called, often suffer from droughts
that almost invariably in our climate in Au-
gust or September. A failure of these crops is of
tener owing TO this than any other cause With
out resoring to the test of experiment. can any ra-
tional farmer doubt that this obstacle to the pro-
ductveness of our soil may be, in great measure,
overcome by loosening the subsoil! In our old
fields, which have been cultivated for many years,
with the use of no other than the common plough,
under crust has been formed by the travelling of
the oxen and movement of the plough for a long
time, at a few inches below the surface. This is
generally hard to be impenetrabe by the roots
of plants and hence the necessity of breaking this
crust by the subso plough A soil having close
hard gravel, or stiff clay bottom, may perhaps
derive equal benefit from the use of the subsoil
plough. Most of my observations, with regard to
its beneficial effects, have been upon the former,
having but little land with clay bottom The OBJ
jections to deep ploughing that exist IN the minds
of some farmers, cannot apply to subsoil plough
ing inasmuch the poorer part of the soil is loos-
ened, but not brought to the surface.
Mr.. P. states that he has used subsoiI plough
constructed by Prouty g. Mears and is pleased
with it. The best specimen of subsoiI plough that
have seen made by c. Howard. Of bingham
This obtained the first premium of the State Soci-
ETY. the present year. II is OF medium size, and can
be procured for about $40. Ruggles g. Co. have
also made variety Of patterns of these poughs"I
ScouR IN SHEEP-This is one of the worst
complaints that attack the flock As soon as dis
covered the diseased animal should be removed
from the flock, and kept fasting at least twenty-four
hours without any food Then commence by feed
ing, in small quantities, ripe hay coarse timothy
is as good as any; keep them ripe hay until you
are satisfied the disease has abated. This is the
most simple and surest method ever tried.
Fresh feed, grass or hay, may cause this com
plant and when thoroughly commenced among
the flock, it may spread by contagion; therefore a
shift of place and feed is obviously necessary.
If the hay be brined once or twice each week
through the fodderng season, say dissolve one pint
of salt in three gallons of water for flock of fifty :;
it will prevent the scours and is one of the best
methods Of winter management, if fed in mild
weather, that be recommended for sheep
tAibaay CahiratOr] s. W. JEwETT.
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