224 UXDERDRAIXING AND DEEP TILLAGE. 



first siglit would seem to be drained sufficiently hj their natural 

 descent, are often so saturated as to need draining quite as much as 

 that which is more level. Lands saturated in consequence of 

 springs which constantly yield water, also need draining. 



It does not follow that all lands, which would be improved by 

 draining, would yield a profit in consequence of its being done. 

 This matter of profit in draining depends upon various considera- 

 tions. First the character of the soil itself. There is some land 

 which will not pay for fencing nor for clearing. The elements 

 requisite to fertility may be wanting or so deficient as to render the 

 ground unproductive. Of course such land would not pay to drain. 



A^ain the location of the land mifrht be such, that althouirh the 

 improvement would quadruple its productiveness, it might still be 

 an unprofitable operation. This would be the case if inaccessible — 

 or if in a district where as good land as this would be, after being 

 thus improved, could be bought for less than the cost of draining. 

 What we want to know, is whether the improvement will pay a good 

 profit; or how much would the laud be worth after draining? 

 Would it be greater than the united value of the land before drain- 

 ing and the cost of the work itself? Plainly, if land, the market 

 value of which is now only 10 or 20 dollars per acre, could be im- 

 proved by draining, at a cost of 30 dollars per acre, so that its value 

 would be increased to $100 per acre, no one would fail to recog- 

 nize the gain. And this is mainly dependent upon the character of 

 the land and its situation, so that land which it would pay to drain 

 in some situations, would not be profitable to drain in others. Let 

 the same rule be observed in this as in clearing land, rocky hind, 

 for instance. Can I make enough more from this farm after I clear 

 it of rocks and stumps to pay for the work of clearing 7 The farmer 

 knows the gain of a cleared field over one which is filled with stumps 

 and stones; he knows the value of the land now, and he can decide 

 about the work of clearing. After we have shown the benefits to 

 be gained from draining and its cost, the farmer can apply the same 

 rule to an analogous case. 



Having noticed briefly the character of the soils which will be 

 benefited by drainage, and indicated such as may be operated on 

 with profit, we now come to the advantages to be derived from the 

 operation. 



