SECRETARY'S REPORT. 95 



nerativc) benefit, tliey have begun a process of change and 

 amelioration of the entire soil, which has no limit, at least until 

 its depth is on a level with the drains. 



By every working of the surface, and every deepening of the 

 working, even by every rain drop that finds its way into the 

 drains, their efficiency is increased, and that action extended 

 which gradually but surely improves the depth and character of 

 the soil. On the other hand, draining renders easier every 

 working of the land, whether ploughing, subsoiling, or hoeing; 

 whether by hand or other power. It makes any given quantity 

 of manure do more service and last longer, and it applies far 

 more of the fertilizing properties of the ' poor man's manure,' 

 snoio, rain and air, while preventing the wasteful habits of the 

 two former in washing the soil. 



Moisture in the soil is a necessary condition for the growth 

 and development of ordinary vegetation ; but there is enough 

 in the water which is held by capillary attraction, in resistance 

 to gravitation, while filtering through the soil. Any good soil 

 is made more productive, and some sterile soils may be rendered 

 fertile by frequent filtrations of wate.^ sprinkled upon the sur- 

 face, and received in drains below. Hain or snow water, bear- 

 ing ammonia, the wash from other lands, and still more, the 

 drainage from cess-pools, street gutters, and the like, are fertil- 

 izing ; but even the same water, gathered from the drain, and 

 returned by a ram, or other apparatus, again and again, will 

 at each irrigation dissolve and deposit food for plants. 



It is essential that the water shall be in motion, and never 

 be held stagnant, awaiting the slow process of evaporation. In 

 this condition it is hurtful to all vegetation of the farm, and 

 destructive, when saturating the surface for a long time. 



Running water on the surface will quicken and brighten up 

 the grass ; it is fertilizing, then. But on tilled land, it wastes, 

 carrying away the finer and richer particles of soil, and when 

 flowing in largo quantities, or rapidly, doing more harm than 

 good. 



Stiff, clayey lands, abounding in springs, or holding water in 

 basin-like places, are said to be ' cold,' often ' sour,' and are 

 necessarily unproductive. Some such places possess all the ele- 

 ments of a fertile soil, useless, or nearly so, — certainly profitless 



