46 KEPORT OF OFFICE OF EXPERIMENT STATIONS. 



more than 260 of which are cultivated, and combines the very rolling 

 topography of the upland country with the wet draws of the flat 

 bottom lands. A complete sj'stem of tile drains for the lowland was 

 laid out, and also an experimental sj^stem for the hillsides, to test the 

 value of underdrains for preventing erosion by the surplus water 

 from the hills. The work of installing the drains will be started at 

 once by Mr. Marrs, and the farm will serve as an excellent example of 

 the efficiency of underdrainage for these purjDOses in the silt and clay 

 loam soils of that region. An examination was made, without an 

 instrumental survey, of Mrs. Adam Rankin's farm of 400 acres near 

 Henderson, Hy. A report was prepared outlining the drainage 

 needed for those lands. 



L. L. Hidinger made a survey of the farm of the Princess Anne 

 Academy, a school for colored people near Princess Anne, Md., used 

 as the eastern branch of the Maryland Agricultural College. A plan 

 was prepared for a sj'stem of tile lines to drain about lOG acres, and 

 instruction was given to the principal and local manager in the prin-. 

 ciples and practice of farm drainage, that they might be taught to 

 the students. The engineer's assistants were pupils of the academy. 



A survey of the Cumberland farm, consisting of 2.500 acres, near 

 Portsmouth, Va., was made by George H. Boyd. The system of 

 ditches that had been constructed by the owners of the farm had 

 not given the desired efficiency, and plans were made for improving 

 the drainage by modifying the old system, and by the construction of 

 some new ditches and a low levee to intercejjt the water flowing 

 from adjacent higher land as well as to remove more promptly that 

 falling upon the farm. The owner at once purchased machinery and 

 began the construction work recommended. 



A system of tile drains was arranged for about 50 acres of wet land 

 on the farm of John A. Bechtel, near AYilliamsburg, Va. Notwith- 

 standing the fact that this tract occupies a high elevation, careful 

 artificial drainage is required. 



The Arkansas State Normal School acquired a farm of 80 acres 

 to encourage the teachers of the State to become familiar with the 

 principles of scientific fanning. F. F. Shafer made a survey of the 

 farm and prepared plans in detail for a tile system to drain 25 acres 

 of the farm that are too wet for cultivation. 



Old rice lands on the farm of J. F. Shoemaker, near Crowley, La., 

 have been abandoned for rice growing, and rotation of crops is 

 needed to restore their fertility. To permit this change in cultiva- 

 tion, especially in the very close soil of such land, the drainage must 

 be carefully planned. A. M. Shaw made a survey of 210 acres of 

 these lands, and laid out farm ditches in such a manner that after 

 a few years the land can again be made suitable, at small expense, for 

 growing rice. 



