1837] 



FARMERS' REGISTER. 



515 



this islaiiil, both with reijanl to soil and climate, is 

 very liworahle to aijriculture. and capable orimicli 

 improvemciil ; the means ol which aie now almost 

 every where at command. 



It is not, however, the intention of this treatise 

 to show what are the u^eneral improvements con- 

 nected with a<iricnltiire, but to explain an<i de- 

 scribe chielly, that branch of it which may be con- 

 sidered the most important, and one, on tiie proper 

 performing of which, most of the others, in certain 

 situations, depend. 



The necessity and advantages ofdraininrr have 

 long been acknowledsred, though tiie principles 

 and practice ol'it have been but imperfectly under- 

 stood. Since the establishment, however, of the 

 Board of Airriculture ("m 1793), by whose means 

 and influence, the sj^stem discovered, and so suc- 

 cesstlilly practised, by the late intrenious JVlr. Klk- 

 inffion, has been generally introduced, more has 



The extension of its knowledge was likewise 

 greatly promoted by the persuasive ami perspicu- 

 ous lectures of the late Prolessor of Agriculture in 

 the University of Edinburgh.* 



To particularize every individual who has use'd 

 extraordinary exertions in promoting the practice 

 of draining, would exceed the limits of this treatise, 

 and might be oHiMTsive to some, and tiisagreeable 

 to others ; it will therefore be better to mention, in 

 general, some of those counties, and extensive 

 estates, where the greatest works have been exe- 

 cuted, ;ind where the various branches of it have 

 been conducted on a large scale, and with com- 

 plete success. These will accordingly be noticed 

 in the sequel. 



In dividing the subject into parts and sections, 

 it appears eligible to adopt the following arrange- 

 ment :t — 



Firftt. To give an account of the various methods 



been done in a scientific and perfect manner than ' in i)ractice before the introduction of Elkington's 

 hitherto; and by its being now introduced mto | system ; stating the imperfectioti of these, which, _ 



most parts of the kingdom, many thousand acres 

 have, within the last forty years, been brought 

 Into useful culture, that otherwise might have re- 

 mained in a waste and unproductive state. In- 

 deed, the suj'eriority of this system, wht^n condnct- 

 ■ed on the proper principles, is now so generally 

 known and acknowledged, that there are it'w 

 land-owners or intelligent farmers who are not 

 anxious to adopt it. So sensible now are the great 

 proprietors of liind in Scotland, of their interest in 

 having this improvement executed on a liberal and 

 extended scale, that it is the practice with many 

 of them, to have a general plan for the drainino; 

 and subdividing the different farms, on new letting 

 their estates. By this means, the work is execut- 

 ed in a more regular, substantial, and permanent 

 manner, than it possibly could be, if left to the 

 management or direction of the tenants them- 

 selves. On this great scale, the connection of one 

 farm, or part of an estate, with another, renders the 

 effect more complete, and the ultimate expense 

 much less, than if done in small and unconnected 

 portions ; and the additional rents thereby obtain- 

 ed, produce a profit much greater than the same 

 sum would do in any other mode of outlay. The 

 tenants, too, are so sensible of the advantage of 

 this system, that they readily give a higher rent, 

 in preiiirence to their havinir *he work to do at 

 their own expense, and in their own manner. 

 The Highland (and now also) Agricultural Socie- 

 ty of Scotland, have, by their liberal encourage- 

 ment in giving premiums for essays, and for the 

 greatest extent of drains executed in a successful 

 manner, been the means of promoting the best 

 system of that science, as well as every other 

 branch of rural economy. 



To the indefatigable exertions of Sir John Sin- 

 clair, when President of the Board of Agriculture, 

 the country is much indebted tor the many publi- 

 cations on agricultural subjects, particularly for 

 that wherein the various modes of husbandry 

 practised in Scotland, are so minutely described, 

 and the merits of draining so clearly set forth. 



The many farming clubs and societies now 

 constituted in this part of the island, have, by 

 their rules and premiums, contributed much to the 

 circulation of agricultural knowledije, and to the 

 removal of r!.>any obstacles and prejudices, both 

 among their respective members, and the com- 

 munity at large. 



though injudicious, and therefore productive of 

 little good, are, in many places, still prevalent. 



Secondly. To enter at large into the principles, 

 and to give a full description of the manner of 

 draining the various kinds of wet ground, accord- 

 ing to the approved system of boring, lapping, and 

 cutting much deeper than what is practised accord- 

 ins to the old method. 



T/n'rdly. To state the various modes of forming 

 and filling drains ; the general expense of execut- 

 ing, and manner of forming contracts for the work; 

 with the obstacles whicli sometimes occur to pre- 

 vent its general extension, and the probable means 

 of lessening or removing them. 



This latter section is applicable to both the pre- 

 ceding ones. 



The whole is illustrated by explanatory plates; 

 for without the aid of such, it would be impossible 

 to convey a just idea of the nature and principles 

 on which any system of draining is founded. Such 

 plans, thereflire, are given of the various situations, 

 and sections representing the inclination of those 

 internal strata that produce springs and wetness, 

 as will be useful in facilitating the knowledge of 

 this important art. 



Fourthly. There is given a description of the 

 difitirent modes of hollow and of surface-draining, 

 as more especially practised in the southern coun- 

 ties of England: and, lastly. 



An appendix, in which are given practical direc- 

 tions for the culture and improvement of bog, moss, 

 moor, and other unproductive ground, alter being 

 drained. 



As the former editions of this work were written 

 under circumstances not so favorable to perspecui- 

 ty and detail, it is now offered to the review of the 

 public, with such corrections and additions, as the 

 writer's extensive practice and experience have 

 enabled him to make, and wiiich, he hopes, will 

 render it more useful. The plates have been re- 

 vised, and for the sake of fiirther elucidation, several 

 new ones have been added, and the whole now 

 arranofed in a better manner. 



* In almost all the ao;riciiltural publications and en- 

 cyclopjEdias, from the time of the first edition of this 

 treatise, the article ''draining''' has been cliiefly taken 

 from it, with due acknowledgment. 



t The subject beins; closely connected with culling, 

 secUon is used as a better division than chapter. 



