1858. 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



211 



be supposed that water ■would hardly find its way 

 through these stones, but water would make way 

 through very small crevices if there was but a 

 sUght fall. 



Mr. Flint, Secretary of the Board of Agricul- 

 ture, did not believe in indiscriminate draining 

 in this country, for the reason which had been 

 stated. But he rose to introduce a gentleman 

 of experience in this matter, who had constructed 

 four miles of drain. He referred to Mr. B. F. 

 NouRSE, of Boston. 



Mr. NouRSE said that he had laid two miles of 

 tile drain, in which he made use of 10,000 tiles, 

 and about the same distance of stone drain, on 

 his farm in Orrington, Maine. His stone drains 

 were four feet deep. They were constructed of 

 side stones covered with flat stones to form a 

 channel for the water. He then filled with small 

 stones about six inches deep, then threw on sod, 

 turf or bushes, to exclude the particles of soil, and 

 then returned the soil. This cost from 90 cents to 

 $1,00 a rod. His small drains were 3^ feet deep, 

 similar to the above, and cost from 75 cents to 87 

 cents per rod, deducting the amount of the benefit 

 in getting rid of the stones. His small tile drains 

 were less in width, but of the same depth, and 

 equal care was used in laying them. When la 

 bor was dear they cost fi"om 80 to 88 cents per 

 rod. His soil was springy and cold, with a hard 

 pan. The drains were laid four rods apart, and 

 afterwards the land was plowed crosswise over 

 them. The effect was to put these lands in good 

 working condition earlier in the season than any 

 other land in the neighborhood. In 1852, a lot 

 of springy land which he had drained with tiles 

 was in good plowing condition as soon as the 

 frost was out. Before the drainage, cattle could 

 not cross it in early June without miring. The 

 effect of drainage on the field crops, including 

 roots and grain, was equally marked, giving an 

 increased return of more than double the extra 

 cost, and it more than doubled the grass crop. 

 The last foot in the depth of a drain was the 

 most expensive and the most valuable, but $37,50 

 per acre would cover all the expense of drainage 

 This was a process which increased in value with 

 years. It enabled the later as well as earlier cul- 

 tivation of the land. His own land in Maine, 

 drained in this manner, had been plowed as late 

 as November 20th. He found that the cost of 

 the tile drain was a little larger than the stone 

 drain. He made no account of the advantage of 

 getting rid of the small stones. He found no 

 difference in the operation of the two drains on 

 his own farm, which was a pretty steep hill-side, 

 with a northern exposure. He could not recom 

 mend an open drain with stones. 



Mr. Howard, of the Cultivator, said that ar- 

 rangements were making to furnish tile at a 



cheaper rate than heretofore. Drains were made 

 in New York at a cost of 30 cents a rod. They 

 would be for sale at all the agricultural warehouses 

 here. Their average depth was 2^ feet. There 

 might be cases M'here a depth of 4 feet, or more, 

 might be necessary. It was found In England 

 that in very tenacious soils, dejith would not 

 compensate for great width of space between the 

 drains. The effect of water left on the surface 

 was to bake and stiffen the soil. On springy 

 soils, where sub-aquatic plants were observable, 

 drainage was necessary. 



Mr. Cook, of AVareham, had found drains of 

 great advantage even ten rods apart. He had 

 doubled the value of lands by open drains this 

 distance apart. If his drains were nearer togeth- 

 er he had found the grass lighter. They drained 

 the land too much. Tipping in stones without 

 the care of laying them had not worked so well 

 as bushes. 



Mr. Flint offered the following resolutions re- 

 ferring to the death of Col. Moses Newell, of 

 Newbury, which were adopted by the meeting, 

 after feeling and eloquent tributes to the memory 

 of the deceased by Mr. Flint, Mr. Fay, of Bos- 

 Ion, and Mr. Davis, of Plymouth. 



Besolved, That we contemplate with deep and 

 unmingled sorroAv the death of our late associate, 

 the Hon. MosES Neavell, of West Newbury. 



Besolved, That we feel most sensibly the great 

 obligations which rest upon the community to 

 cherish his memory, for the lively interest which 

 he manifested in the progress of agriculture, and 

 for that benevolence, courtesy and kindness of 

 heart which gained him the confidence and re- 

 spect of all. 



Besolved, That we sympathize most deeply with 

 the family and friends of the deceased in their 

 heavy bereavement, and that while we mingle 

 our tears with theirs, we rejoice in the belief that 

 he has passed to a higher and more glorious state 

 of existence and happiness. 



Besolved, That a copy of these resolutions be 

 transmitted to the family of the deceased, and 

 published in the report of this meeting. 



NEW GRAFTING WAX. 



We find in the papers the following recipe for 

 making grafting ivax. It is similar to a composi- 

 tion which has long been used for covering limbs 

 where they are cut off in pruning. It may prove 

 well, and will cost but little to try it. It is as 

 follows : 



Take two ounces of common rosin, melt it slow 

 over a fire, being careful not to heat it so much 

 as to make it throw off its spirit of turpentine. 

 When it becomes clear as syrup, add a little less 

 than one ounce of alcohol, and mix well and put 

 in a bottle at once and cork tight. Alcohol is to 

 be added sufficient to make the mixture liquid and 

 keep it so, and Avhen applied to trees, it hardens 

 at once and forms an air-tight covering. 



