260 BOARD OP AGRICULTURE. 



one and two dollars a barrel, much care in its manufacture for 

 a market was not justified, but now that the price is quadrupled, 

 ■we hope to see unripe and rotten apples rejected from the 

 pile which is to be ground for cider, and the use of musty 

 straw entirely dispensed with. Tiie musty barrel has also been 

 tolerated equally with the musty straw. Let the principles of 

 cider manufacture be studied as carefully as the principles of 

 manufacturing wine — and they are nearly identical — and this 

 branch of farming will take rank where it deserves. 

 For the Committee, 



Alexander Hyde, Chairman. 



The Essay having been read and discussed, was laid over. 

 Mr. Birnie presented his Report as delegate to the Middlesex 

 North Society, which was read and accepted. 

 Mr. Porter presented the following Essay, on 



DRAINAGE. 



The practice of draining is still in its infancy in this country, 

 yet the time is not far distant, when it will be looked upon as a 

 very important part of our agricultural operations. Thousands 

 of acres in New England still remain unproductive, for the want 

 of thorough draining. 



In the management of soils it is necessary to their fertility to 

 cause the rain water falling upon the surface to filtrate equally 

 and readily to a proper depth, and to convey it away without 

 allowing it to accumulate there. This is the object of draining. 

 And it is accomplished in case of stiff soils, by causing the clay 

 to shrink and become pervious through the joint action of the 

 drains and evaporation, and in other wet soils merely by carry- 

 ing off the surplus water below, thus enabling the quantity 

 added above to penetrate regularly downward. When this 

 result is attained, all otlier necessary improvements may be 

 successfully carried out and the most profitable system of 

 cropping adopted. A saving of seed, labor and manure will 

 then be effected, and the numerous advantages arising from a 

 dry and more friable soil will be secured. 



The object sought to be obtained by various operations, as 

 well as the circumstances to which such operations are appli- 

 cable, would be made plain if the principles upon which the 



