ON 



UNDERDR.VINING AND DEEP TILLAGE. 



BY GEORGE L.. GOOD ALE, SACO. 



Among the influences which have conspired to render the agri- 

 culture of England superior to that of other countries, drainage 

 occupies a prominent position. By the simple process of under- 

 draining, much of her heavy and wet soil has been rendered lighter 

 and warmer, more easily tilled and far more productive. The 

 change has been so marked, that the acute M. Lavergnc has, not 

 inaptly, said of it : "It is as if the Island were once more rising out 

 of the sea." At the instance of the Royal Agricultural Society, 

 the English government has encouraged draining by loaning capital 

 to small farmers, feeling assured that the money would be profitably 

 expended. Such opinions, then, do the highest agricultural author- 

 ities in the world entertain on the subject of underdraining. As a 

 result of this outlay, in connection with the improvements, farms 

 once hardly able to yield enough to pay a small rent, are now paj'- 

 ing higher rents and rendering rich and ample returns to the occu- 

 pant. Tims has the whole appearance of the country been changed 

 to one of great prosperity. In fact, this great luxuriance and even- 

 ness of crops, on soil naturally poor, strikes forcibly the observant 

 visitor from France or America ; and the reports carried back by 

 such travellers have done much to stimulate progress in this direc- 

 tion in our own country. 



It is proposed in the follovring essay to examine this subject of 

 underdraining, inquiring : 



1^'irst. Wliat lands would be improved by draining? 



ISecond What lands may be profitably undordraincd? 



Third. The benefits to be expected from underdraining and 

 deep tillage? 



Fourth. The best methods of draining? 



It is deemed hardly necessary to say that all swamps and bogs 



