172 FIRESIDE SCIENCE. 



one half the losses occasioned by late springs and 

 wet seasons, and which would bring into high tilth 

 thousands of acres now lying waste and valueless. 

 I have upon my farm tested the value of under- 

 drains, not only upon low lands, but upon high 

 lands. Two years ago I resolved to experiment 

 upon a hill or elevation thirty feet above my 

 meadow, and I placed in position tiles, so as to 

 afford a full and free outlet for the water which is 

 so lavishly poured upon us in the spring months. 

 Some of my farmer friends predicted the worst 

 possible consequences to the crop upon that field, 

 and confidently looked for wilted leaves upon the 

 corn stalks during the dry months of July and 

 August. But in this expectation they were disap- 

 pointed. No wilting came, although the heat was 

 fervid and the clouds gave no rain. The corn 

 planted the first year withstood the drought better 

 than the crops situated upon lower land, and very 

 much better than those upon other fields of equal 

 elevation. It was earlier in starting, grew more 

 vigorously, the product was heavier, and it was 

 harvested much sooner in the autumn than other 

 crops. The second year the same results were ob- 

 served in the growth and maturation of wheat, and 

 I have no doubt that the improvement is a perma- 

 nent one that in a series of years the cash value 

 of the improved crops will greatly outweigh the 



