SECRETARY'S REPORT. 85 



perish on one saturated and frozen solid ; and this is doubtless 

 a principal cause why this crop has so often failed vrith us, — a 

 large proportion of the land upon which it has been tried, being 

 such as needs draining and has not received it. 



The access of air to the siibsoi], secured by means of drain- 

 age, is of value also by virtue of the ameliorating influence 

 which it exercises upon it, in causing the disintegration of its 

 particles, and its gradual conversion to the qualities and proper- 

 ties of the surface soil. The subsoil is thus as really brought 

 into contact with, and under the influence of, air, as when it is 

 thrown to the surface by the action of the plough, and a gradual 

 deepening of the soil is effected, and an addition of fertilizing 

 material secured. 



Time and space would fail, at present, to attempt anything 

 like a full exposition of the theory and practice of draining in 

 its varied phases; but there is one other point, to which atten- 

 tion is invited, because of the great misapprehension which 

 prevails in the minds of many respecting it. 



The remark has been often made in our hearing, that the 

 benefit arising from drainage in England is easily accounted for 

 by the excessive humidity of the climate, and not only proves 

 nothing in favor of its efficacy here, where the most striking 

 feature of our climate is a liability to severe and protracted 

 droughts, but affords presumptive evidence that it must prove 

 injurious in a climate so unlike. 



If the proposition was to drain the atmosphere, instead of 

 the soil, there might be some point in this, and some weight 

 allowed to the inference ; but the fact is, that although wc have 

 fewer rainy days, we have as much rain fall here as there, or 

 more, and the water once stagnant in the soil, a foot (more or 

 less) beneath the surface, is very slightly influenced by cither 

 sunshine or drizzle over head, its chilling effects upon vegetation 

 go on much the same. 



But this is not half the truth. Paradoxical as it may at first 

 blush appear, that a removal of water by drainage, may tend to 

 secure a supply of moisture, yet it is a fact, easily accounted for 

 in theory, and abundantly demonstrated by experience, that 

 thorough drainage (and especially in connection with deep tillage) 

 is vOur surest and most efectual safeguard against droughts. 



