EXPERIMENTS IN DRAINING. 279 



at the time of draining, and after plowing, both 

 the first and second season, permitting the parties 

 to walk on the drained parts, without any undue 

 moisture, while all other undrained land in the 

 neighborhood was muddy, and as before stated, the 

 corn was found to be far more vigorous in the plant 

 and abundant in the grain. In the following season 

 after the corn, I cropped it with barley, and found 

 the drained land produced altogether the finest 

 plant, and the best yield of grain ; when the barley 

 was harvested, I prepared the field and cropped it 

 with wheat. The difference again was so striking 

 and distinct in favor of the drained land, that I felt 

 the propriety of thoroughly draining the whole field, 

 which was completed without loss of time, at a cost 

 of twenty-two dollars per acre for the whole field. 

 I then plowed and sowed with barley and seeded 

 with clover ; of the latter I cut a very large crop last 

 summer, and not a square foot of the clover froze 

 out, and now I can rely on a good crop of any thing 

 I may sow or plant. I had previously drained seve- 

 ral other fields, or at least those parts that needed 

 drains. Encouraged by a considerable increase of 

 products derived from my farm from draining, I 

 determined to extend the system as rapidly as con- 

 venience and circumstances would permit. Upon 



