104 WHAT LANDS REQUIRE DRAINAGE. 



chemically upon its minerals, and of C07ivertlng it 

 into an efficient vehicle of the matter which it con- 

 tains, are answered by the percolation of water 

 through the soil. You must not think, then, of 

 drainage as a contrivance for getting rid of water 

 from the land as an enemy ; nor must you think of 

 a wet and ill-drained field as being merely an illus- 

 tration of the injury done by water in excess, as it is 

 called. "Water need hardly ever be an enemy, and 

 need rarely be in excess. Drainage is a contrivance 

 for making use of it as a friend, and an ill-drained 

 field is an illustration of the mischief done by water, 

 whether there be little of it or much, when not in 

 motion." 



We desire, then, to promote the percolation of the 

 water through the soil, and to do this we lay con- 

 duits beneath its surface to carry away the surplus 

 moisture, and to produce currents of water and of 

 air. We intend to enumerate several points which 

 are of importance to its accomplishment. 



1. What lands require drainage ? That it is neces- 

 sary in land where water stands upon its surface 

 in summer, is evident to every one ; but that soils 

 where the evil is hidden are as much in need of it, 

 is difficult for the uninitiated to comprehend. If 

 rushes, or any aquatic plants make their appearance, 

 it is a sure sign of the necessity of drainage ; for 

 all the fruit-growing plants flourish alone upon dry 



