198 



wliere only one grew before, deserves well of his country ;" and this com- 

 pendium of the whole matter, induces me to mention two notorious in- 

 stances of improvement, equally stimulative to the man of capital and 

 the man without it. The Duke of Portland, one of the most liberal and 

 largest land owners of England, converted four hundred acres of bog 

 land, into the most fertile tracts of the midland counties of England, by 

 turning the river Maun through it, or over it ; the running water of the 

 river flowing through Mansfield and partaking of its sewerage waters, 

 as well as carrying with it the certain sewerage of Chipstone, construct- 

 ed by the Duke, gave circulation to the stagnant waters of the morass, 

 and life-blood to the plants. And this improvement was effected by 

 irrigation chiefly ; drainage was also used ; and drainage, that vital reno- 

 vator, of climate as Avell as of soil, has turned a wild, and wet, and 

 trackless morass into a fruitful plain. Chat Moss, lying between Liver- 

 pool and Manchesser, consisting of several thousand acres of dead and 

 profitless swamp, has been cultivated. An individual rented from the 

 owner one thousand acres, at the nominal rent of one shilling per acre- 

 He divided it into sections, and fol" fences, made wide and deep ditches, 

 into which he drained ofl" the waters, and obtained sound and stable 

 land, in lieu of the unsound and Avater shaken swamp. An improved 

 climate, too, took place; and a clear, instead of a foggy atmosphere 

 prevails, the whole now being cultivated. 



But I cease to trespass on your readers, or on the privilege you have 

 afforded me. The agricultural knowledge of this, and of every other 

 country, is open to all, and much of which they treat, practically known 

 to many of your Association. That which appears to me to be the duty 

 of those you desire to communicate with you, is to state that which in 

 their own practice or observation they have found, or supposed to be, 

 beneficial ; and I think I cannot better fulfil mine, or contribute more to 

 this end, than by urging, in conclusion to my cursory remarks, every one 

 to produce more of the fruits of the earth than he has hitherto done, by 

 adding science to his handiwork — to plow deep and to sow deep — to top- 

 dress his pastures and meadows, and to burn nothing beyond what is ne-^ 

 cessary for the preparation of his food, or the warmth of his household. 

 I am, my dear sir, 



Yours very sincerely, 



^ . n T 17 J- BERKLEY. 



To Albert C. Ingham, Esq., 



Sec. of the Wis. State Agr. Society. 



