THE FARM AND FARM BUILDINGS. 493 



easy reach of the roots. Seed planted now finds as much 

 moisture as it needs for germination, and only as much. Its 

 rotting in the ground is impossible ; and if we follow all of the 

 processes of growth, and all of the operations of cultivation and 

 harvesting, we shall find that the former are never impeded by 

 too great wetness of the soil, and that the latter may be per- 

 formed always in good season and with the best effect. Neither 

 are the crops destroyed, or even greatly injured, by drought ; 

 for if there is one effect of underdraining that is established 

 beyond doubt, it is that it is at least the basis of all those opera- 

 tions by which we most successfully attempt to overcome the 

 effects of a drought. Instead of being a pest to the farmer, 

 disappointing half of his hopes and baffling his best skill, this 

 acre of land has become a pliant tool in his hands. So far as 

 it is possible for him to be independent of the changes of the 

 weather, he has become independent of them, and he works 

 with a certainty of the best reward, which changes his occupa- 

 tion from a game of hazard to a work of fair promise. 



To answer the question, then, which stands at the head of 

 this article, underdraining is knocking the bottom out of the 

 water-tight box in which our soil is encased. If we are the 

 happy occupiers of land through which the water settles away 

 as it falls, we have no need of the operation ; but if our only or 

 chief outlet is at the surface, with the drying sun and wind for 

 draining tiles, we do need it, and can never hope for the success 

 to which our seed, our manure, and our labors entitle us, until 

 we adopt it. How it is best to do the work depends upon the 

 soil, situation, price of labor, price of material, and depth of 

 outlet that can be secured. Stone drains, tile drains, brush 

 drains, board drains, mole-plow tracks, and all other conduits 

 are proven pretty good, so long as they continue to afford a 

 channel through which the water can run freely. The choice 

 between them is based upon questions of durability, cost, and 

 availability. The only positive rules, applicable to all cases, are 

 that the drain should be a covered one, and not an open ditch, 

 and that it should be, whenever possible, at least three, and 

 better four, feet deep. 



Farm Drainage. While it would be hardly fair to say that 

 farmers are slower than men of other classes to adopt improve- 



