26 BIG SPRING PRAIRIE. 
Dr. W. A. Kellerman and myself have made micro- 
scopic examinations of muck obtained in localities 
where it would have been most likely to occur. It 
either existed formerly, even if no traces have been 
found, or other forms of plant life possess the same 
power. As before mentioned a remnant of the old 
lake existed as late as 1850, occupying a portion of the 
bed of the old outlet, or Blanchard’s Fork. 
By an inspection of the Map, it will be seen that 
the drainage at present is in the same three general 
directions as mentioned under natural drainage while 
the area was a marsh. The Divide occurs along New 
Road No. 1. The territory to the south of this road is 
drained into Spring Run, the water eventually finding 
its way into Sandusky Bay by way of Tymochte Creek 
and Sandusky River. 
The ditch, draining into Spring Run, does not 
follow the natural drainage course to vicinity of Gault 
House, but veers eastward just north of Carey and emp- 
ties into the Run near the Hocking Valley Depot. The 
territory north of the Divide is drained northward, then 
westward and empties into the Bower Ditch just west 
of the Seneca—Hancock County line. The waters of this 
ditch reach Lake Erie via the Blanchard, Auglaize, and 
Maumee Rivers. The Vanlue end of prairie is drained 
by several ditches whose waters empty into the Blanch- 
ard River. 
ARTIFICIAL DRAINAGE AND ITS EFFECTS. 
The first drainage ditch was dug about 1860. This 
drained the old lake remnant, and led to the gradual 
decrease in strictly hydrophytic plants. The second 
ditch drained into the old lake bed. It extended from 
the western edge of prairie, eastward along Seneca— 
Wyandot County line, and then northward along the 
eastern margin of prairie, then northwestward, empty- 
