98 STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



SOUTH HAVEN POMOLOGIUAL SOCIETY. 



OFFICERS. 



President — Henry E. Bid well. 

 Vice President — J. G. Kamsdell. 



Secretary — Alfred G. Galley. 

 Treasurer — Henry (Jaulfield. 

 Librarian — Almon J. Pierce. 

 Entomologist — Alfred Fitch. 

 Ornithologist — L. H. Bailey, Jr. 



The following are among the papers read before the Society during the year: 



DRAIXING. 

 READ BEFORE THE SOUTH HA.TEN POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY BY A. G. GULLET. 



A writer for the Country Gentleman says three things are necessary to make 

 a farm pay: First, manure ; second, manure ; third, a little more manure. A 



correct idea. But to get the full benefit of that manure, at least one more is 

 needed, — thorough draining. By this we mean a complete system of under- 

 draining with tile, for no arrangement of open ditches, box, stone or log drains 

 can be called thorough. 



Before proceeding to the manner of making drains, it may be well to consider 

 a few of the objects obtained. The first and great object is to dispose of all 

 surplus waters, whether that from rains, spring, or flow from adjacent lands. 

 On undrained lands this surplus runs off on the surface if rolling, evaporates, or 

 slowly settles through the soil. When this water is from springs it is to be dis- 

 posed of in the quickest manner possible, but with rain waters we have more to 

 do. When it first falls it is heavily charged with elements that enrich the soil 

 if it passes down through it, and not allowed to run off on the surface, for 

 those valuable elements leave the water as it filters through the soil, and we 

 gain the third point above mentioned, — a little more manure. 



If we depend on evaporation to remove the surplus water what is the result? 

 Water changing into vapor takes up a large amount of heat, and when the sur- 

 plus is disposed of by drying up, a great deal of heat is lost from the soil. Of 

 course a great portion is drawn from the ftir, but when we remember the heat 

 produced from ten tons of coal is required to evaporate an inch of rainfall 

 from an acre, it is plain that a large amount must be lost from the soil. Take 

 any low piece of land from which the water must evaporate to become dry, and 

 it will be found to be cold, wet, unproductive soil. 



We have already seen that rain soaking through the soil enriches it. They 

 also tend to lengthen season. Our drains begin their labors as soon as the frost 

 leaves the ground, indeed they have been busy all winter. The cold water in 

 the soil at the opening of spring immediately runs off through the drains, to be 

 follow (1 by the waters of the warm spring rains, which in passing through 

 leave its heat, the sooner preparing it for the seed. For the same reason we 

 can commence our cultivation sooner, as the land soon dries and is ready for work. 

 I have seen land, naturally dry, that is plowed each year a week or ten days 

 earlier than that adjacent, not drained, yet the same kind of soil. Spring rains 



