THE NEW AGRICULTURE. 115 



when we did not suffer more or less from drought during some 

 portion of the summer. Twenty-one of the thirty months in ques- 

 tion had less rainfall than six inches per month, and the average 

 of these twenty-one months was about 3.02 inches per month, or 

 only about half of what was needed. Some of the protracted sea- 

 sons of drought were almost entirely rainless for six weeks, during 

 which the weather was excessively hot and windy, and vegetation 

 suffered extremely in consequence." 



But why multiply witnesses touching the necessity of saving, 

 instead of wasting the waters ? In our colder climates of the 

 North, the waters of rains, dews and melting snows should all be 

 halted, housed, husbanded and held back so far as may be, getting 

 all possible advantages from them. As we write, there comes to 

 hand a letter from Hon. John Swinburne of Albany, N. Y., which 

 will find its place on the pages of our book, alongside of another 

 from the pen of Hon. C. R. Early of Pennsylvania. Both these 

 gentlemen are representative men, eminent in public, private and 

 professional life. Both agree that the future of the waters is the 

 one of the world. The one would gather them in, purify and use 

 them to make an end of fungus, deadliest enemy of vegetable and 

 animal life ; the other shows how this can be done, and vividly 

 portrays the advantages to come of the achievement. 



Let no reader conclude that, from the frequent mention made 

 along these pages of firm subsoils, that these are the only ones 

 where our system will apply. It can be applied on all soils to 

 great advantage. Two out of three among correspondents writ- 

 ing us have asked whether our system can be made to apply to 

 level lands. Our answer is, it will apply everywhere. The rela- 

 tive advantages of its application are those of economy, and the 

 lands to which it is most readily adapted will be found the most 

 profitable. 



