1864. | Introduction. 5 
fold, our readers will perceive this movement to be one of great 
practical importance. ‘To do our English landowners and farmers 
justice, it would appear that they have always been willing to grant 
this accommodation to a neighbour, but, owing to the laws of entail 
and other conditions of society, this has been but a fleeting privilege, 
and should the obliging neighbour die, and be followed in the posses- 
sion of his estate by one less accommodating, the outlet might at any 
moment be blocked up or otherwise intercepted, and then the owner 
of the drained land would have no power to cause it to be cleared or 
reconstructed. 
Several previous attempts had been made to remedy this evil by 
legislative enactments, all of which proved futile; but under the new 
Act (which appears to have objectionable as well as advantageous 
features) a local Board may now be formed, having power to assess a 
rural district precisely as in the case of a ‘ commission of sewers.” 
The method by which it is intended to improve the drainage of land 
is by doing away with those mill-dams which interfere with the free 
current of an arterial drain, as well as through the utilization of others 
by which the flow is facilitated ; by collecting and storing up surplus 
water, and preserving it for seasons of drought; and pumping stag- 
nant water by mechanical power from low to high levels, and thence 
directing it into arterial drains. To attain these objects, it is requisite 
to secure the hearty co-operation of whole agricultural districts, and 
owners of land should not look to their own immediate interests 
alone, but should consider the welfare of their neighbours and 
posterity. 
The promoters of such movements as these will find us ever ready 
to advocate their cause and give publicity to their reasonable sug- 
gestions.* 
But good drainage alone is not a sufficient preparation of the soil 
for the reception of the parent seed; deep and constant furrowing are 
also requisite, and for this purpose steam is rapidly and advan- 
tageously superseding horse-power. 'The work is accomplished more 
efficiently and speedily, and there are descriptions of soil, and seasons 
when it would be absolutely ruinous to allow horses to tread the land 
whilst dragging the plough, whereas no obstacle whatever is opposed 
to steam traction. Indeed, the substitution of the latter for the former 
has, no doubt, frequently gained a season to the farmer, as his improved 
harvesting implements have saved him a valuable crop. 
It is hardly needful to add, that with improved drainage and cul- 
tivation of the soil, the farmer secures more valuable produce. Light, 
* Mr. J. Bailey Denton has been most active in bringing about improved 
drainage, and in procuring enactments for the purpose. 
