Does Subsoiling Pay?

Acoording to The National Stockman, theoretically the use of the subsoil shonld Qay in most soils. The settling of the ground, the trampirig of teams in the bottoin of furrows and the absence of much organio matter tend to exclude the air fiom the snbsoil. A thorongh stirriug of this soil, loosening the whole masa to a depth of bíx or eight inches below the snrface soil, commends itself to one's judgment. Granting this, it is a somewhat remarkable fact that very few subsoil plows are ever worn out. A progreasive farmer will bny snch a plow, use it one season, and then fonr times out of five cast it aside. His experience does not inspire him -with sufflcient faith to continue its use. There are exceptions to this rule, but comparatively few farmers practice subsoiling, uotwithstanding the antiquity of the idea. The idleness of the plows all over the oountry is no slight evidence of lack of faith in their use. The difflculty seems to be that a subsoil that easily packs and becomes hard is of such texture that n few soaking rains wil! compact it after being etirred by the subsoil plow. Deep plowing is more effective, as it puts sods and other vegetable matter below to hold the clayey partióles apart. Mere stirring of the clay beneath, without the addition of material to hold it looe, is ohiefly temporary in its effects.