472 THE HOME, FARM AND BUSINESS CYCLOPEDIA. 



5. Tilling rendered easier and less expensive. This is an important 

 advantage, springing naturally out of the explanations already given. It 

 is also due to the increase in the number of working days during the 

 year upon drained land. On wet clay soils the farmer must wait for his 

 land to dry. Nothing is more injurious than to attempt to work clay 

 land when wet, and the time so spent is considered to be worse than 

 wasted. Since drainage greatly shortens the period required to dry land, 

 the number of working days throughout the year is considerably increased, 

 and that strain upon the horses of the farm, so common at favourable 

 seasons upon clay lands, is avoided. Either, then, fewer horses will be 

 required, or those which are kept will be maintained in working condition 

 at less cost. 



6. Applications of Manure more effective. There can be no greater 

 mistake than that of applying fertilisers, in any form whatsoever, to wet 

 land, and this is one of the best reasons for insisting upon thorough drain- 

 age a first step towards improvement. Neither oil-cake given to live 

 stock, gypsum applied to the land, or top-dressing distributed over grow- 

 ing crops, will yield satisfactory results upon undrained wet soils, but 

 after drainage all these means may be used with advantage. 



7. Health of Live Stock improved. Certain diseases are constantly 

 associated with the presence of stagnant water. Although it would 

 scarcely be correct to speak of stagnant water as directly causing black- 

 leg and red- water among cattle, or " rot " among sheep, yet there can be 

 no doubt that a wet condition of soil induces the presence of the active 

 causes of these diseases, and that thorough drainage tends to extirpate 

 them. 



8. The health of the rural population has also been greatly improved 

 in many districts where drainage works have been carried out on a large 

 scale, and this alone is a sufficient reason for viewing the operation as of 

 national importance. 



1. Removes surperfluous water. 



2. Allows free access of air. 



3. Makes available materials, that were formerly useless. 



4. Destroys injurious substances. 



5. Saves time and labour. 



6. Saves seed. 



7. Pulverises and cleans. 



8. Quickens the action of manures. 



9. Hastens harvest. 



