204 ' [Assembly 



vidual. Mr. Benedict drained, in 1852, eighteen acres of land, 

 at a cost of over ^48 per acre. We are gratified that the superin- 

 tendent of this institution has given to the public an account of 

 his improvements, and we believe, that even at the cost stated, 

 the investment will prove to be a good one. 



Mr. Talcott has laid, during the last year, 330 rods, three feet 

 deep, at a cost of 35 cents a rod for tile and 30 cents for stone 

 drain. His statement contains some useful suggestions, but the 

 form that he gives to his drain that is laid with stone, we think 

 quite objectionable. 



The second premium, the committee suppose, would be due to ^ 

 Mr. Benedict, if the drain had been laid at his own expense, but 

 as it is upon grounds belonging to the public, the committee do 

 not feel authorised to award the premium. 



All of which is respectfully submitted. 



• GEO. GEDDES, 



T. G. YEOMANS. 



Statement of R. J. Swan, of Seneca County. 



My farm is situated on the banks of the Seneca Lake, in the 

 town of Fayette, in Seneca county, containing three hundred and 

 forty-four acres, and is about three miles distant from the village 

 of Geneva. The soil is a clay loam, forming a part of the ridge 

 which extends from the Seneca river to the southern borders of 

 the county. This ridge, which rises gradually in its whole ex- 

 tent to the south, has given a character to our farms as highly 

 favorable to wheat, yet it has been noticed, that its summit 

 every where indicates an excess of moisture. 



The benefits derived from draining this soil, by a thorough and 

 judicious system, were too strongly marked on an adjoining farm 

 to escape notice ; the crops of wheat, corn and clover, prove to 

 me, clearly, that thorough draining had increased both quantity 

 and quality. 



To participate in these advantages, I determined to carry out 

 the system of thorough draining on my farm, and commenced 

 opening the trenches in August last, continuing my operations 



