18 BOARD OF AGRICULTUEE. 



abundant, the advantage cf thus disposing of the stones will 

 often nearly equal the cost of the drains. Heavy soils, well 

 drained, make the most profitable lands, especially in dry 

 seasons. I find that on such soils it does not take more than 

 half as much maimre to produce the same crop as it does on 

 the naturally dry lands. 



Tillage will accomplish much toward rendering a wet soil 

 dryer. The ploughing and pulverizing of wet soils, when it 

 can be done, will hasten the drying and warming of the 

 surface, and sooner fit them for the seed. Plou"hinof a wet 

 soil loosens it and admits the air and heat of the sun, and 

 exposes more of it to the drj'ing winds. It also breaks, to 

 a certain extent, the capillary connection with the subsoil, 

 and thereby checks the ascent of water from below. While 

 it is not wise to plough soils when too wet, it is well to start 

 the plough as soon as possible. Wet, heavy land may also 

 be made lighter and dryer by continued tillage for successive 

 3'ears. I have found by experience that the continued til- 

 lage changes its character and makes it more porous and 

 lighter, so that each successive season the surplus water 

 soaks away or dries out more rapidly. 



These means for rendering a wet soil dryer are simple 

 and easily carried out, but a more complicated and difficult 

 problem presents itself herein ; how to retain the water for 

 use when needed, and to apply it at such times. This may 

 be done by the primitive method of making reservoirs on 

 streams and carrying the water by canals to the fields, and 

 there distributing it by ditches ; but this is impracticable on 

 most of our farms, and expensive under the most favorable 

 conditions. 



Where water can be had from pul:)lic water works the 

 crops can be supplied by a hose and sprinkler, without 

 great expense, except for the water rates, and under such 

 conditions can often be used to great profit. But such op- 

 portunities for procuring water are exceptional, and usually 

 the only available means are pumping by wind or steam, 

 and distributing by pipes and hose. The erection of such 

 conveniences has been made very profitable to extensive 

 market gardeners on valuable lands, but it is not within the 

 means of the majority of the farmers of our State. There 



