ENGLISH AGRICULTURE. 93 



certain depth beneath the surface there is an impervious 

 substratum which causes an accumulation of water upon it, 

 which accumulation reaches to the surface, or near to the 

 surface, and causes damage to growing plants. 



In the case of retentive clay soils, the soils are wet from 

 rainfall. Clay soils are always wet from direct rainfall, not 

 being able to pass off the water sufficiently rapidly, and 

 therefore there is an accumulation of water near the surface. 



The second class of soils are often wet from water which 

 falls at a distance, and which finds its way down to lower 

 levels and accumulates there, not from direct rainfall upon 

 the surface, but from the soakage of water from higher levels. 



The water economy of these two classes of soils will occupy 

 us shortly, but I want first to ask and to answer another 

 important question, namely, why is it an advantage to rid 

 land of water? We know the benefits which accrue from 

 water, and we know the disasters which are inseparable from 

 a long-continued drought. Every one has heard of the oasis 

 in the desert, which is simply a green spot where there 

 happens to be an abundance of water, and most of us have 

 probably noticed the rank herbage generally associated with 

 plenty of moisture. We are also familiar with the luxuriant 

 growth of the water meadow. Those who have watched a 

 water meadow throughout the season must have been struck 

 with its extraordinary power of growth. Such meadows are 

 mown annually. There is a heavy crop of hay taken off 

 them every year, and that has been going on from time 

 immemorial. And not only do they give a crop of hay every 

 year without any manure, but they likewise give abundance 

 of spring keep for sheep, and a plentiful autumn feed for 

 horned stock and horses, all being brought about by a copious 

 and constant supply of water. 



Hence the question as to why it should be such an advan- 

 tage to take water out of land becomes very important. 



I 



