EASIER DESTRUCTION OF WEEDS. 123 



Drained land freezes deeper. This is a matter of 

 great importance to the orchardist, because the 

 roots of the trees remain frozen through the winter, 

 and arc not liable to be affected so severely by the 

 vicissitudes of the climate, which often proves so 

 injurious to the fruit trees in the eastern portion of 

 our country.^ 



Draining deepens the soil, and furnishes a wide 

 feeding-ground for the roots, as before shown. 



The iveeds are destroyed more easily. The differ- 

 ence is just that which the farmer has observed in 

 killing them upon a wet and dry day. In the 

 former case the earth adheres to them, and they 

 soon take root again ; while in the latter, they are 

 readily torn up and withered. All aquatic plants 

 are also driven out. 



The trees themselves become more hardy, hear more 

 ahundantly, and continue more healthful; the fruit 

 is less liable to become spotted ; the favor is greatly 

 improved ; and the trees are more uniform in growth. 

 A gentleman of England, who had drained a field 

 of ten acres, desired to ascertain the practical result 

 of the aeration of the soil. The field was divided 

 into five sections, each containing an equal number 

 of drains. Leaving that in the centre, and one on 

 each side, he selected the other two for experiment, 

 and conducted the termini of the drains, and sup- 

 plied them with a ventilator at each end. Imme- 



^ See Exposure, p. 27. 



