BIG SPRING PRAIRIE. 43 
to secure sufficient fall for further proper drainage, it 
was necessary to blast out a couple of feet of solid rock for 
the greater portion of the distance from the bridge just 
north of the Northern Ohio depot to the point where it 
empties into Spring Run. A portion of the southern 
arm of prairie just south of the Carey—Findlay road has 
been rendered fit for cultivation by means of a very ex- 
tensive system of underground drainage. A walled 
catch-basin, receiving the water from several side arms, 
occurs just south of thisroad. A large tile drain carries 
this water to the southwestward. 
FIGURE 9. BOWER DircH Just BEYOND LIMIT OF PRAIRIE, DEEPENED IN 1891. 
4. LAGGING’ BEHIND OF EFFECTS. 
On area D of Map II, although there are ditches 
on three sides of it producing excellent drainage, yet 
Phragmites phragmites (Reed) still flourishes fairly 
well. It is not as dense or rank as formerly, but it is 
yielding very gradually to the changed conditions, and 
