160 



reject that plan altogether and fill up the drains so firmly and com- 

 pactly, that water cannot enter at the mouth, but at the bottom and 

 sides of the drain. 



Open main drains were formerly much used; they have been en- 

 tirely superseded by covered mains, which are certainly much better. 

 Among the most important modem improvements in the art of drain- 

 ing, may be classed the Deanston system, the sub-soil plow, Fowler's 

 mole-plow, improved tile machines, Sec. 



In former times, farmers were satisfied if they removed excess of 

 moisture from land by surface draining. Modern Science has pointed 

 out the injury done to land by surface drains, and warned the farmer 

 against adopting such a system. Rain water should he permitted to 

 sink into the earthy and to deposit its fertilizing ingredients in the soil. 

 To it the soil is indebted for its supply of ammonia, or the flesh produ- 

 cing ingredients. To it the soil is indebted for carbonic acid, which 

 may be said to be the foundation of the bones of animals, and also for 

 the fat producing alkalies, so, as a modern writer has remarked, to rain 

 water are we indebted for the flesh, bone and muscle of animals. It is 

 essentially necessary that rain water should percolate through the soil- 

 It should not be carried oft' rapidly by surface drains. We may be 

 sure that along with the water a great part of the soil is carried away 

 and deposited in the bottoms of creeks and rivers, where it is forever 

 lost to the farmer. 



When muddy water sinks into the earth and percolates through the 

 soil it becomes perfectly clear, every particle of sediment having been 

 deposited in the strata through which it has passed. 



INFLUENCE OF DRAINING GT^ HEALTH AND VEGETATION. 



The necessity of land drainage was forcibly pointed out in Michigan, 

 in the spring and summer of 1855. The prevalence of ague and fever, 

 and other bilious diseases, the death of a great many of the rural pop- 

 ulation, and the sickness and sufierings of others tell plainly that stag- 

 nant water has done its work. These sad results ought to have the 

 ^flect of impressing on the minds of the survivors the necessity of re- 

 moving the excess of moisture from the soil. 



An unhealthy season might have been expected when the immense 

 quantities of rain which fell during the summer, was not provided with 



