1891.] PUBLIC DOCUMENT — No. 33. 193 



in the upper soil. The other was an open ditch, on an 

 average of from one foot to eighteen inches deep, to assist 

 in a speedy discharge of surface water, due to heavy rains or 

 the meltnig of the snow and ice on adjoining hillsides in the 

 spring. In both instances the necessary fall was secured to 

 dispose of the surplus water in a desirable degree. One 

 surface ditch sufficed for the whole area ; while numerous 

 branch ditches, starting out from the main tile ditch at 

 varying distances from each other, were built at all places 

 where local conditions indicated an exceptional state of 

 moisture. The tiles in the branch drain ditches varied from 

 two to four inches in diameter. The main tile drain at its 

 southern starting point runs into a stone drain ten by twenty 

 feet, which serves as a filter for the turbid water coming 

 from the adjoining hillsides in case of heavy rains before 

 entering the tile drain. The surface ditch runs up to the 

 stone drain to prevent an accumulation of water, and 

 thereby reduces the chances of untimely overflow of the 

 meadow. 



As soon as the drain tiles were covered and the ditches as 

 far as practicable levelled, the entire area was ploughed, and 

 the main depressions filled up with stones and earth, or 

 earth, as circumstances advised, and left in that condition 

 over winter. 



The succeeding spring a wheel harrow was used to break 

 up the rotten sod. The soil was subsequently repeatedly 

 ploughed and harrowed, until it showed the desirable me- 

 chanical condition required for a successful cultivation of 

 summer grain crops. 



Barley and oats were chosen as the first crops in case of 

 the meadow north of the new roadway. Both were seeded in 

 drills, with rows two feet apart, to permit a thorough de- 

 struction of an objectionable foul growth, by a frequent use 

 of the cultivator and hoe. 



As soon as these crops were harvested, one ton of wood 

 ashes per acre was ploughed in, to assist in the disintegration 

 of the excess of organic peaty matter, and to serve as a gen- 

 eral fertilizer. Ploughing once more and smoothing the 

 surface by means of a brush harrow, the entire area was 

 seeded down into grass to serve as meadow. The latter was 



