THE NEW AGRICULTURE. 53 



with them inspirations to plant growth, having an influence as yet 

 scarcely dreamed of. 



" It is not only subsurface, subterranean or underground irriga- 

 tion which is realized in perfection under operation of the methods 

 governing in my system, but a perfect method of drainage also, 

 carrying off the surplus waters and leaving to mother earth the 

 work of elaboration, and to plants their selections of food and de- 

 sired fill of drink, always in abundance, and never in surfeit. 



" The time has come when around and about every home of our 

 entire land the work should begin of subsurface or underground 

 irrigation and drainage. If on slopes and inclines, with firm sub- 

 soils and an abundance of stone, the work can be readily and econ- 

 omically done. If the soils are porous, then should clay or cement 

 be used in construction of reservoirs and inclines, and the form of 

 tile, to which recourse may be had, has only to be shaped for the 

 work in hand, when yoking of " Leviathan " will be begun in a way 

 to demonstrate what he is capable of doing. 



" Suffice it to say that were the slopes on the east and west banks 

 of the Hudson thus generally trenched and fitted, your great and 

 grand river would show a steady current of pure spring water 

 moving down to the ocean, regardless of droughts or removal of 

 the forests, so defying diminution of its tides as to make navigation 

 of any portion of its channel, even in midsummer, a something un- 

 necessary to provide otherwise for. You will find the begetting of 

 lakes at any altitude chosen among the mountains, hills and valleys 

 of the counties of Albany, Columbia, Schenectady, Schoharie, 

 Montgomery, Herkimer, Dutchess, Putnam, Greene and Ulster, 

 not to mention others farther north, not only a pastime but a 

 profit, of which not one in a million of the American people yet 

 dream. You will find that growing of crystal springs, and beget- 

 ting of rivulets and rivers of water is a something as easy of 



