3G8 



WOIVTHLY JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURE. 



ON THE IMPORTANCE OF DRAINING LAND. 



We remember well the time when the idea 

 of fertility and heavy products was so inti- 

 mately and thoroughly blended with that of 

 moisture, that whei'evcr we saw a piece of land 

 that was constantly moist, so that no water 

 laid on its surface, we set down that spot as 

 one that would not fail to bring a heavy crop — 

 especially of grass ; and we have our doubts 

 whether there was not a time when this was 

 the common impression. Inquiry, reflection 

 and experience are, liowever, now doing for 

 Agriculture what thej- liave sooner done for 

 other pursuits ; and now, fortunately, the raind 

 is brought to work at every turn, and empiri- 

 cism and prejudice are made to give way before 

 investigation and proof Now the Farmer is 

 taught by the exercise of his reason, and, even 

 without know ing it, by the principles of agri- 

 cultural chemistry, that a settled, abiding 

 moisture in land, resulting from some obstruc- 

 tion to the escape of water, either rain or spring 

 water, is incompatible with that degree of 

 ■warmth which is one of the indispensable con- 

 ditions to the development and growth of ve- 

 getables. Hence, as the Fanner who walks or 

 rides over his estate, and sees a sunken or a low 

 spot, which in the driest weather shows signs 

 of constant dampness, indicated by coarse 

 aquatic grasses, or otherwise, he says to himself, 

 ' There is a portion of my capital lying dead and 

 inert. I must therefore contrive so to drain it 

 that the water will not settle upon or in it, and 

 thus give it life and activity. Then I shall have 

 removed the only obstacle which prevents it 

 from yielding a heavier crop either of grain or 

 grass, than any other equal portion of my estate ;' 

 — for the Farmer ought to lay it down as a rule, 

 that even where he proposes to lay down his 

 laud in grass, it should yet be so well drained 

 as to be well adapted to the growth of grain. 

 Land so laid dry, willalwaj-s give, with equal 

 richness, a better crop of cleaner and more 

 valuable hay. than that which is too wet to pro- 

 duce grain. Let him who wants to see heavy 

 crops of clean, nutritious timothy hay, go to the 

 naturally dry, hilly lands, such as George Pat- 

 terson's, Gov. Howard'.s, or N. Bosley's. on the 

 Gunpowder, in Maryland. True, there are 

 many fields that are well adapted to the growth, 

 and produce heavy crops, of tobacco or gi-ain. that 

 would not yield, and at all events not more than 

 one crop, of timothy, or herd's gras.s, as it is 

 (732) ' 



called in different parts of the counti-y ; but that 

 is owing, not to the absence of moisture, but to 

 some other condition of the land — to too much 

 of one and too little of another kind of soil, and 

 to other circumstances, not to the w^ant of moist- 

 ure. Moisture, it is undeniable, is essential to 

 the growth of all vegetables, according to the 

 laws of vegetable physiology, but not fixed, 

 pent-up moisture. Its departure, like its com- 

 ing, should be free and natural. If we appear 

 to dwell too much on this subject (of draining), 

 it is because it is impossible to pass along 

 through the country without being struck with 

 the quantity of land, on almost everj- estate, the 

 veiy best land on it, which is made sick and 

 unproductive of all wholesome growths, by cir- 

 cumstances thatprevent thcescape of redundant 

 moisture; and it is among the foremost of our 

 wishes, to see the minds of land -holders pos- 

 sessed of the conviction that it is idle to be 

 sighing and scheming for more land, or repining 

 at the inadequacy of thein income, while they 

 have already so many acres that lie waste and 

 unproductive — paying interest but yielding no 

 dividend, for want of draining, grubbing, clean- 

 ing and manuring. 



At a late meeting of the Scotch Highland So- 

 ciety, at Dumfries, an interesting discussion took 

 place on Draining as •' among the foremost'' of 

 the means for agricultural improvement. The 

 particular testimony to which we would invite 

 the attention of the reader is that of Mr. Elliot: 

 Prof Johnston said — I am quite sure that the 

 general statements which Mr. Elliot has made 

 must have produced an impression upon the 

 meeting. At the same time I know the fanners 

 so well, that I am sure nothing will so much 

 satisfy them, or the landlords either, as showing 

 that the propo.sed improvement will put money 

 in their pockets (hear, hear). Now Mr. Elliot 

 has drained largely, and I know successfully 

 (applau.se) : you will excuse me, therefore, if I 

 ask what are the results of his own draining? 

 He is one of the most enterprising drainers in 

 Dumfrie.sshire, and is, therefore, a noble exam- 

 ple. I should like him to let the strangers here 

 know what are the results during: the eight 

 years which he has been employed in draining ? 

 i would ask first, what have been the general 

 results of draining on the whole farm ? — how 

 much has it increased the produce ? 



Mr. Elliot said— I have a statement which 

 shows the improvement. Before, my land was 

 partly wet and partly dry ; one-half, nearly, has 

 not been drained ; but the principal improve- 

 ment on the whole has been by draining. The 

 result I will read to you : 



