DRAINAGE AND IRRIGATION. 241 



Drainage increases the effect of the application of manure, 

 the soil being drier, is more easily worked fine ; the manure is 

 also more evenly distributed. The water also passing through 

 the soil, carries fertilizing matter down to the roots of plants. 

 When there is stagnant water, manure must decompose slowly 

 if at all ; but let the water pass off, the air is admitted, and 

 decomposition takes place. 



What observing man is there who does not know that his 

 crops are improved in quality, by drainage ? Sweet English 

 grass and clover take the place of sedge and rushes. 



IS IRRIGATION MANURE ? 



The author whom we have already quoted says, " Irrigation 

 (in agriculture,) is the operation of causing water to flow over 

 lands for nourishing plants." That pure water, when properly 

 caused to flow over most of our soils in some seasons of the 

 year, will cause a greater growth of vegetation, none will deny. 

 But it has been clearly shown by some of our most distinguished 

 agriculturists that the application of fertilizing matter in the 

 form of liquid manure to tlie soil, was the best that could be 

 used for the growth of plants. And there is no agricultural 

 question more important than that of the improvement of the 

 soil by irrigation, if by this means the rich organic and other 

 matters which are now carried into the sea could be saved to 

 agriculture. 



The application of manure to the soil, so as to ue of the most 

 benefit to the crop and land, is a subject which circumstances 

 have much to do with. Our soils, climate and seasons vary so 

 much that no rule can be laid down which shall be applicable to 

 all localities and crops. How much of the manure is lost by 

 exposure to the elements, and how much by what is called 

 leaching, are questions which are commanding the attention of 

 practical and scientific men at the present time. And in what 

 condition tlie manure shall be applied — whether in its fresh, 

 green state, or when partially decomposed, after fermentation 

 has taken place ? The proposition which was laid down by a 

 former member of this Board, that " farmyard manure never 

 possesses more of the elements of plant-food than in its original 

 unfermented state," is no doubt true ; for whatever advantage 

 fermented and rotted manure may have over unfermented, it is 

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