FAEMERS' INSTITUTES. 303 



attempted to drain a marsh, and bring it into conditions of productiveness, 

 Avlio have absolutely failed in the attempt. The reasons for such failure I here 

 venture to assert, arc that in nine cases out of ten, the work is not properly 

 done. Many men Avho undertake to reclaim a marsh will in tlie lirst place 

 construct a ditch around the outside of it, without any regard to fall ; and 

 down hill, through higli ridges, and ravines, all the same size and depth ; and 

 the dimensions of their ditch will be aljout two feet wide on top and two feet 

 deep, with banks nearly perpendicular, and then they say they have drained 

 their marsh. We have only to wait until after the first winter is over, then 

 inspect their ditches and ask them if drainage is going to be profitable, and 

 their answer will invariably be in the negative. Such attempts at draining 

 marshes may be seen in all parts of this county. The reasons for failure are, 

 that the small shallow ditches fill up with mud or water, and it matters but 

 little which, for if a drain is full of water the object to be attained is very close 

 to a failure, because the water in the adjacent soil is just as near the surface 

 as it is in the drain, and although the drain may be working well, yet, the 

 perfect draining of the marsh cannot be obtained for want of proper depth. I 

 desire to say here, that there are some marshes and swamps tliat can never be 

 reclaimed, because their location is so low that tlieir is no suitable outlet, but 

 nine out of ten of all the marshes in this county have desirable outlets and can 

 be drained and made tillable, productive, and profitable land, if the following 

 principles of drainage be carried into effect : First provide a suitable outlet ; 

 and secondly, construct the drain, if in muck or marsh land, not less than four 

 feet deep, with a slope of bank not less than one foot on each side to one foot 

 rise, and not more than one foot or one foot and a half wide on the bottom, 

 according to the quantity of water to be discharged ; for experience has shown 

 that a narrow drain will carry off a given quantity of water in a shorter 

 period of time than a broad bottomed drain. The proof of this will be seen 

 Avhen we compare the two. The water in a broad bottomed drain will spread 

 over the whole surface, or it will meander from one side to the other, form- 

 ing bars and eddies, pile up heaps of sediment in the drain, or wash under 

 the bank and cause it to fall in, thereby making it necessary to clear it out 

 frequently, while the same quantity of water will pass through a drain of 

 one-half the width of bottom, and cause a strong current to run straight 

 and carry off all sediment, grass, leaves or other obstructions, keeping itself 

 clear and always down to its original depth, thereby obtaining the constant 

 and unnecessary expense of cleaning and deepening. The subject so far treated 

 relates more particularly to marsh lands, and not to low clay bottoms or other 

 swamp lands having a solid earth bottom and being too wet for cultivation. 

 Their treatment and permanent cure will be considered more particularly under 

 the subject of tile draining. 



After a marsh is properly ditched, the first thing to be done is to break it; 

 up and try to subdue the wild turf or sod, which should never be done in the 

 spring of the year, except it is to be sown with oats, which, in a dry season, is a 

 very good beginning. But, generally, the best way is to plow in June, just 

 before or immediately after harvest, then harrow thoroughly, and allow it to 

 remain in that condition through the hot \veather of July and August. If in- 

 tended for wheat it should be sown early, for there is no danger of fly troubling 

 it and it will get a stronger top and root and is less liable to heave, a difficulty 

 of frequent occurrence on newly reclaimed marsh land. 



I will call your attention to the subject of tile draining. I would not recom- 



