PRIZE ESSAYS. 



JAN., 1852. 



EXPEEIMENTS IN DRAINING. 



BY JOHN JOHNSTON. 



To the Executive Committee of the 



New York State Agricultural Society: 



GENTLEMEN In your list of premiums presented 

 to the farmers of this State for competition, at the 

 winter meeting in January next, a premium is 

 offered for experiments in draining. 



Having long esteemed a good system of drainage 

 as important to good farming, and being well con- 

 vinced that it would much increase the profits on 

 most farms, I have made tile drains on my farm in 

 Seneca county, extending to full sixteen miles in 

 length. The farm is situated on the rich clay 

 ridge which extends from the Seneca river south- 

 erly to Tompkins county, a ridge of land devoted 

 chiefly to the cultivation of wheat. I was many 

 years ago satisfied of the necessity of removing in 



