STEAM IN AGRICULTURE. 247 



not the requisite time or team for getting in his Corn- 

 crop in due season should plow single furrows through 

 his field at intervals of 3 to 34- feet, plant his Corn 

 on the earth thus turned, and proceed, so soon as his 

 planting was finished, to plow out the spaces as yet 

 undisturbed between the springing rows of Corn. I 

 do not know that this recommendation was ever 

 widely followed ; but I judge that, under certain cir- 

 cumstances, it might be, to decided advantage and 

 profit. 



I have not attempted to indicate all the benefits 

 which Steam is to confer directly on Agriculture, 

 within the next half-century. That Irrigation must 

 become general, I confidently believe ; and I antici- 

 pate a very extensive sinking of wells, at favorable 

 points, in order that water shall be drawn therefrom 

 by wind or steam to moisten and enrich the slopes 

 and plains around them. Such a locomotive as I 

 have foreshadowed might be taken from well to well, 

 pumping from each in an hour or two sufficient 

 water to irrigate several of the adjacent acres ; thus 

 starting a second crop of Hay on fields whence the 

 first had been taken, and renewing verdure and 

 growth where we now see vegetation suspended for 

 weeks, if not months. I feel sure that the mass of 

 our farmers have not yet realized the importance and 

 beneficence of Irrigation, nor the facility wherewith 

 its advantages may be secured. 



