92 SPEINGS. 



filter through the earth, it is either lost by evapora- 

 tion, or is washed into the valleys to create unhealthy 

 swamps. 



2. The soil is supplied with moisture hy springs. 

 To illustrate this we quote at length from Mr. 

 French's useful book upon " Land Drainage," which 

 should be in the hands of every enterprising farmer 

 and fruit-grower. > " Usually we find the crust of 

 the earth in our cultivated fields in strata or layers. 

 First, a surface-soil of a few inches, of a loamy 

 nature, in which clay or sand predominates; then, it 

 may be, a layer of sand or gravel which freely admits 

 the passage of water ; and perhaps next, and within 

 two or three feet of the surface, a stratum of clay, 

 through which water passes very slowly, or not at 

 all. These strata are sometimes regular, extending 

 at an equal depth over large tracts, and having a 

 uniform dip or inclination. More frequently, how- 

 ever, in hilly regions especially, they are quite 

 irregular, — the impervious stratum often having 

 depressions of greater or less extent, and holding 

 water like a bowl. Not unfrequently, as we cut a 

 ditch upon a declivity, we find that the dip of the 

 strata below has no correspondence with the visible 

 surface of the field, but that difi'erent strata lie 

 nearly level, or are much broken, while the surface 

 has a regular inclination. 



" Underlying all soils, at a greater or less depth, 

 but usually only a few feet below the surface, is 



