Year: 1859

ploughing, and are not in the least alarmed
at the bugbe reports by Tom, Dick and
Harry. Of cases in which il ruined the soil |!
Il is high time the invariable four.inch rule
was suspended by rational principles capable
OF easy application to any given case.
Viewing the question in the light ot
science. the proper answer would be
First tell me what is the character of your
surface and subsoil, and the nature Of the crop
to be grown, for these are data from which
alone it will be safe to deduce an answer.
We say deep plonghing should to be the
general rule, because there are only two
eases to which It is inapplicable, and one OF
these is susceptible of such modification as
that it shall finally cease to be exceptional.


The first and only really exceptional case
Is that wherein the subsoil contains sub.
stances-iron, for example-positiyely nox-
ious to vegeta tion 10 which event the turn
ing 1t up TO the surface would be disastrous
to the crop. This case rarely occurs. how
ever, and may be readily apprehended by
any one familiar with the constituents Of
soils.


The other case is that in which the sur.
face is very thin and lying directly upon a
subsol, which though not positively nosious
is nevertheless in an unfit condition for as
stimulation by the plant, being quite totally
deficient in organic matter, and made up Of
minerals which cannot be appropriated un-
til they have first been subjected to the de.
composing action Of the weather. But these
conditions are susceptible of modification
turning up an inch or two at time Of the
subsoil. exposing il to an action of the air
and frost and mixing il with organic ma
nnres.


All other soils are benefited by deep
ploughing. Relative to the demands Of
special plants, il does not come within the
scope Of this general article to say more
than that the roots Of all plants penetrate
much more deeply than is usually supposed
We have often found the rootlets of wheat
rambling at the depth Of FIVE feet below the
surface, while root crops, such as carrots,
parsnips, rutabagas, &C., naturally incline
to send their larger and more blunt extremi-
ties quite deep, and cannot be resisted with
out injury.


sUBsoILiNG,


Properly considered, is based upon the
theory that. while il is important to stir the
soil to greater depth than is convenient or
even possible with the ordinary plough. il is
not always advisable to bring the subsoil to
the surface, and is accomplished BY smaller
2lough--sometime attached and sometimes
entirely independent and drawn by a sepa-
rate team--following in the furrow Of the
larger one. Its advantage, therefore, lies
in the fact that although not always entirely
adequate TO thorough preparation Of the
soil for the seed. it is nevertheless always
beneficial and never subject to positive OBJ.
lection.


We rejoice that deep ploughing and sub
soiling are becoming rapidly popular. and
sincerely hope the time is not Tar distant
when the miserable Western habit Of merely
scratching the surface Of the ground. and
then impiously whining over the meagreness
Of the crop. will have given place to a deep
and thorough working, always prophetic Of a
bounteous harvest. WISCONSIN, Farmer.