238 TRANSACTIONS OF THE 



in them as soon as possible, and an inch thick of the loam over that, pres- 

 sing it down hard with the foot, drop three or four grains of corn in each 

 hill, and cover them one inch and a half deep. I leave the surface of the 

 field as nearly level as possible. 



It is hard to say which is worst, scarcity or excess of water. Draining 

 makes ground warmer ; it, the land, saves warmth, admits air, prevents, in 

 great degree, drought. Subsoiling necessary, and should always accompany 

 draining. It is not near so valuable in wet land. 



On four acres, 285 rods of stone drain, three feet four inches deep. Cost 

 $62.50 per acre, or $250 the four acres. In 1857, it was miry and springy. 

 August 30, 1858, its crops remarkably good. The amount of water drain- 

 ing oflF ascertained to be 17,280 gallons a day. 



They use the small pipe, with collar. 



CULTIVATION OF THE CRANBERRY ON LONG ISLAND. 



Mr. Wiles. — I will give you a short history of my cranberry cultivation. 

 After all the information I could obtain about soil, location and profit, I 

 got plants, and started one-eighth of an acre, two years ago last spring ; 

 and, by the way the plants grew and flourished, I became satisfied it would 

 pay, and made it up to one acre — part of it year ago last spring, and the 

 balance this last spring. You see by this account, that only the eighth of 

 an acre came into bearing this past season, or what they call the first bear- 

 ing year. True, I gathered a few berries last year, but this is what culti- 

 vators call the first bearing year, and I am informed they are not in their 

 prime until the plants are five or six years old. I know nothing about it 

 myself, by experience, but state only the information I have obtained 

 from others. Now for the result, the facts that came under my own obser- 

 vation. Since T saw you, I have received account of sales, and also 

 received the money, for the product of the eighth of an acre. After deduct- 

 ing all expenses, paid freight, commissions, &c., I received $14.50. At 

 this rate, an acre will pay, the third year from planting, $116 per acre. 

 Now, one fact must be borne in mind ; I was unacquainted with the culti- 

 vation of them, and I am satisfied, to begin with, I did not get the best vari- 

 ety of vines — the upland is the best, I bought mine for the upland, but am 

 convincd I did not get them ; and, in the next place, experience has taught 

 me I did not give them proper cultivation. I am now satisfied, that with 

 the upland vines, and proper cultivation in the beginning, the third year 

 the yield will be full $200 per acre. 



The subject of the day, viz : " Loss of fertility to our land by the export 

 of its products." 



Mr- Pell remarked as follows : — Agriculture may justly be considered 

 the art of obtaining from the soil the necessary food for the sustenance of 

 man and his animals, and is consequently the parent of all other arts. 



