332 TRANSACTIONS OF THE 



The man who drains his own lands, confers a benefit upon his neighbors. 

 This is true in regard to the exercise of human skill in all the walks of 

 life. We are no doubt all mutually dependent upon each other — as much 

 so in draining as perhaps any other ; for if we do not meet with kindly 

 co-operation, we may be prevented from using a contiguous outfall, and 

 thus prevent the improvement of an immense area of land. I have known 

 several such cases among people who ought gratefully to acknowledge the 

 value of such improvements, which render homes salubrious, and fields 

 fruitful that were before barren, besides promoting the general happiness 

 and comfort of the entire inhabitants of the district. 



Draining is undoubtedly eqiuvaleut to an entire change of soil as well as 

 climate, in reference not only to the growth of plants, but the health of the 

 people. It deepens the earth, removes the water, and washes out noxious 

 substances from the subsoil, thus aiding the roots to descend. Where there 

 is no outlet under a sandy soil, or in fact any other variety of soil, the poi- 

 sonous matters sink down from ^ibove, or ooze up from below, and remain 

 for a considerable time in the soil, rendering it not only unwholesome, but 

 unfit for the growth of plants. A proper drain will arrest those poisons 

 that descend from above, as well as those arising from below, and every 

 rain will wash the deleterious matters from the soil as deep as the bottom 

 of the drains, and the air will follow in sufficient quantities to produce 

 beneficial results, carrying oxygen, hydrogen and nitrogen where most re- 

 quired and best known. Still, man, with all his knowledge of nature, can- 

 not discern any difference between them, as they are destitute of smell, 

 taste and color ; yet Science, with a lighted match, immediately indicates 

 that they are entirely difi"erent from each other. In fact, gasses of various 

 kinds form a very large share of the solid parts of animals and plants. 

 When separated they are invisible. Atmospheric air, when united consti- 

 tutes a large portion of the magnificent productions of nature. Farmers 

 rarely see the reason of very many of their most common operations, and 

 they have comparatively but little control over agricultural results, because 

 they do not employ their senses of thought as diligently as they do their 

 hands. You often hear farmers say their farms are exhausted by frequent 

 cropping, and I have asked them what exhaustion means, how it takes 

 place, how it can be remedied, and if under any circumstances nature would 

 remedy it if man left it to her ? They pleaded ignorance and failed to 

 answer. If you doubt this, look at the practice of agriculturists generally ; 

 observe the housands of acres on Long Island and in New Jersey, exhibit- 

 ing a degree of unproductiveness certainly not natural to the soil, which 

 was fertile by nature but rendered infertile by art. Chemistry may enable 

 them gradually to restore these tracts again to fertility. Drainage, irriga- 

 tion, lime ami gypsum, will produce an abundant growth of vegetation. 



The agriculturist must recollect that in the drainage of land two objects 

 must be attained. In very rainy locations he desires to remove the surface 

 water from his fields immediately ; but in districts not so situated, that 

 which ascends from the springs beneath the surface should share his regard. 



