FARMERS' INSTITUTES. 237 



as by coinmoii couseut, waste. Now wo do wish to see such land put to better 

 uses than raisuig frogs, mosquitos and fevers. We have various reasons for 

 such wish: — First, it will add beauty to our State; second, it will' add 

 health to our people ; third, it will put money in our pockets. Are not these 

 reasons ])otent? Either one, alone, should be sufficient to induce farmers to 

 renewed activity in improving our lands known as waste. We do not claim to 

 have made any discovery, in publishing the fact that our waste places will pro- 

 duce better things than frogs, mosquitos and fever, but simply to demonstrate 

 a principle. A principle which was applied by various people upon the Pontine 

 Marshes of Italy, before the long night of the Dark Ages; and by the Dutch in 

 Holland, four hundred years ago. By a continual demonstration of this prin- 

 ciple, wo hope to induce farmers in general to emulate our improvement. 

 Demonstration is necessary, because men choose rather to walk by sight than 

 by faith, when it becomes a matter of profit and loss. 



Need we tell you that the feasibility of improving our waste land has been 

 thoroughly demonstrated in this county — many here will willingly affirm this 

 fact, being positively posted in the matter. Yet it might not be amiss to relate 

 a few incidents, when the number is legion. We shall do it, because all the gloiy 

 in beautifying Michigan does not belong to Hon. Z. Chandler and Judge Miller, 

 but should be divided amongst our very neighbors. Not that we wish to detract 

 from Mr. Ciiandler's merit, — tiiousands well know that he has been a "God- 

 send " to our neighboring county. Activity in a useful cause assures credit 

 and honor, — and most assuredly Messrs. Coleman, Mitchell, Basing, Clem- 

 ents, Padley, Fishbeck, Drewry, Smith, Clark, Wilhelm, Twilley and others, 

 though their operations have been less extensive, their demonstrations have 

 been equally valuable. The zeal of Messrs. Padley, Clark, Wilhelm and 

 Mitchell has caused wheat to grow upon land where marsh grass and bobolinks 

 delighted to dwell. Thomas Clements, of Marion, has this season raised a very 

 superior crop of corn upon a marsh noted for the immense size of the bogs, its 

 coarse grass and brakes. Messrs. Drewry, Fairchild, Basing and Tuilley are 

 raising excellent herd's grass on land but quite recently called waste. We do 

 not pretend to say this land is the best. It will have a tendency to return to 

 its native state if not continually cared for. Ditches will choke, and briers 

 and thistles may succeed the grass, to the annoyance of the occupant. But is 

 there any great excellence, in any of our modern industries, without a great 

 amount of pains? Methinks not. 



The question arises, how has such good results been acquired? We will 

 briefly state the modus ojyerandi. Large ditches, for leaders, have been 

 opened to the required depth, so as to rapidly carry away the superabundance 

 of water; connected with this leader are other ditches of smaller caliber. 

 Many of the smaller ditches are tile drains — some are made of wood — inverted 

 troughs ; these troughs answer a good purpose in many places for quite a num- 

 ber of years. (I have them nine years of age yet doing good service.) The 

 leader should always have a greater depth than the auxiliaries, as more or less 

 flood matter is likely to lodge and back the water so as to produce the chokage 

 alluded to. Experience indicates three to four feet as the depth necessary to 

 draw out the water. It is impossible to stand liere and give infallible rules by 

 which to guide farmers in draining waste places. The amount of water, kind 

 of soil, the fall, and the use to which we will put the ground, when improved, 

 are important things to be considered. One thing is certain, that is, a uniform 

 grade must be obtained to assure success; and second, only to uniformity is 



