298 State Board of Aguiclltdre, &c. 



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attention to two considerations wliicli, at present, are out- 

 side the ordinary line of farm operations, namely : The 

 running of water out of land where it is not needed and the 

 runnino; of water on to land where it is needed. 



On nearly all farms there are lands given up wholly 

 to the growth of grass, producing but a small quan- 

 tity of very inferior quality. Tliese lands, in the parlance 

 of the field, are called swales and are not only unprofitable 

 but unsightly upon any estate. 



As the farmer, on a winter's evening, while without is 

 storm and bluster, sits by his comfortable fire and, looking 

 therein, sees the shake of the head and the imploring look 

 of his mild eyed cows and oxen, which say, in language 

 mimistakable, take away this swale hay, the poorest of all 

 poor fodder, and give us something tit to eat ; and, know- 

 ing that the soil yielding such miserable returns is made 

 up of rich deposits, the accumulations of tliousands of years, 

 waterlocked ; and, knowing there is a limit to what he can 

 accomplish in the busy season, let him resolve to give up the 

 coming summer at least one acre of the hoed crops and 

 devote the time and attention to the permanent reclaiming 

 of an e(]ual amount of swale land, and, having resolved to 

 do it, let him do it, and he will have made an investment 

 sure and profitable, and, if properly cared for, paying large 

 dividends thenceforward forever. 



Again, there are on many farms lands liglit and dry. 

 producing but a small amount of vegetation, ^vhich, by 

 their position in reference to streams of water, are specially 

 adapted to the growth of grass — the water not only giving 

 moisture but fertility. If one would see a wonderful 



