274: EXPERIMENTS IN DKAINING. 



some economical way the surplus water which satu- 

 rated the soil, and too often interfered with the 

 growth or maturity of the crop, not only with wheat, 

 but also with other grain and clover. My first 

 efforts, for more perfect drainage, were made in 

 1835, when I imported a pattern of Drain Tile from 

 Scotland, and caused them to be made in this neigh- 

 borhood by hand labor. But it was not until 1839- 

 40, that I felt encouraged by success, as the labor 

 and cost were too great to warrant extensive use; 

 such tiles as were used by me, gave satisfactory 

 evidence of their value. The important changes 

 effected on portions of my farm, were noticed by 

 your present presiding officer, and so thoroughly 

 convinced him of their utility and necessity of drain- 

 age, that in 1848, he imported a machine for making 

 drain tiles in this country. From that day the ex- 

 pense or cost has been reduced, so that no excuse 

 exists for wet fields, or grain being destroyed by 

 freezing out. From that day I have continued to 

 construct drains as fast as my proper farm labor 

 would permit, and present to you the results thus 

 far obtained. 



The question as to the depth of drains has 

 always been one of interest, and some uncer- 

 tainty. On this point, I deem it absurd to propose 



