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face water, it will take two or three, and oftentimes 

 four pits to drain each acre ; this, however, where it 

 can be done, is also a sure and cheap plan. But it is 

 where it is altogether impossible to get any of these 

 plans put in execution that I propose to drain the 

 bogs, at little expense, and in such a way and 

 on such a plan as will bring an immediate return of 

 outlay to the proprietors of such lands. To come 

 then to the plan which I propose, viz., to drain 

 boggy, fenny, and marshy lands, (within themselves) 

 where it is impossible to drain either by descent, 

 free, level, or pitting, without prohibitory expense. 

 First, I propose to plant with larch firs, one-third 

 part of all such lands, and to crop the other two-thirds. 

 The larch firs are to serve three most important pur- 

 poses, — first, to absorb by suction, and evaporate the 

 water, — second, to provide manure for the corn lands 

 — third, to shelter and warm the corn or cropping lands, 

 and I may add a fourth purpose for profit. As I said at 

 the outset, when I recommend and dictate, it is sole- 

 ly from experience, but before entering on the me- 

 thod and explanation, allow me to give a proof or two, 

 the result of experience. I have known a piece 

 of boggy land, tending to moss, containing upwards 

 of 20 acres, whereon a bird could not find rest for 

 the sole of its foot, most effectually drained by the 

 proposed method in a very few years, and in twen- 

 ty years producing trees of larch and spruce firs, 

 containing twenty solid feet of timber, nearly a ton 

 of gross weight, and so completely drained, that a 

 horse could go on the ground and drag off the tree 

 when cut, and to this there was no outlet to the 

 water. I might give numerous instances of this 

 kind. I knew a marsh where willow and poplar 

 I 



