350 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



Aug. 



up to think that "He (Providence) "doeth all 

 things well." If he does, let us look at his works 

 and not endeovor to improve them, except so far 

 as we can by making everything tend to supply 

 natural wants. 



One who has Much to Learn. 

 New Haven, Conn., July, 1853, 



SWAMPS—DRAINING. 



There is no month of the year more favorable for 

 draining and reclaiming swamps than August. 

 Von Thaer, author of the Principles of Agricul- 

 ture, in that section of his work devoted to a con- 

 sideration of the system of draining, says : — 



"A proper degree of draining tends to protect 

 crops from injuries which are the result of excess 

 of moisture, and contributes materially to ensure 

 their success. This operation alone, has often 

 been sufficient to render extensive sterile plains 

 exceedingly fertile." 



There are probably few farms of any extent, on 

 which drains are not more or less necessary. — 

 Swamps and bogs exist in most sections, and 

 these can never be profitably worked, or rendered 

 of any essential benefit to their possessors till they 

 have been thoroughly ameliorated by opening 

 channels for the passage of all the superabundant 

 water they contain. Draining, in this case, must 

 necessarily precede all other improvements, and if 

 it be not thoroughly and systematically accom 

 plished, the operator will find all his subsequent 

 efforts of no avail. 



As an instance of successful and economical 

 draining, we may mention the case of the Rev. 

 D. Huntington, from whose communication to the 

 committee of the Hampshire and Hampden Agri- 

 cultural Society, we gather the following facts : — 

 "x\ few years since," says Mr. H., "this land 

 was a swamp covered with bogs, and brakes and 

 bushes — the haunt of snakes and frogs and mud- 

 turtles — an entire waste." It was not only use- 

 less, but being located in the immediate vicinity 

 of his homestead, was a constant eyesore, anpro- 

 bably unhealthy. In reclaiming it, he first cut 

 the bushes, and then opened a ditch three feet 

 wide, and two and a half feet deep, extending 

 through its whole length. The bog heads were 

 then cut, taking off the entire surface where it was 

 thought to be necessary, and removed to an adja- 

 cent lot, the soil of which was sandy. Here they 

 were made to act as manure, and being intimate- 

 ly mixed with it, they soon so ftir improved its ca- 

 pacities, as fully to recompense him for the cost 

 and trouble involved in their removal. 



The greater part of this soil has had crops up- 

 on it, and some parts repeatedly, and the whole, 

 at the time the report was presented to the com- 

 mittee, was fit for the plow. What the expense 

 was, Mr. H. expressed himself unable to state, 

 but was confident it bore no proportion to the im- 



proved value of the land. The cutting the bushes, 

 opening the ditch and removing the "bog-heads," 

 could not involve a very heavy outlay, as the work 

 was performed at "odd jobs," and when, proba- 

 bly his help had little else to do. The Northamp- 

 ton Courier, in speaking of this subject, says : — 



"As to intrinsic value, lands thus redeemed are 

 to be ranked with the very l^est. For some crops, 

 broom-corn and beans for instance, other soils are 

 preferable. But for the standard, substantial 

 crops of Indian corn, potatoes, oats and the dif- 

 ferent kinds of grasses raised in our valley, expe- 

 rience will show abundantly, that we have no bet- 

 ter lands than those thus reclaimed. Having no- 

 thing in view but to subdue and improve them 

 as well as possible, he has never been particular 

 to ascertain precisely the quantity of crops raised. 

 Compared with those raised on the alluvial lands 

 adjoining, however, they will in the proper season 

 of crops, speak for themselves and the soil that 

 produces them. In some respects the soil of re- 

 claimed lands has manifestly the advantage. It is 

 naturally richer. Having for its basis clay or hard 

 pan, ii retains the manure put upon it much long- 

 er. It is as easily cultivated, and excepting those 

 portions of the alluvial which are benefited by 

 freshets, it is, to say the least, as easily kept in 

 good heart." 



Covered ditches are now used to a considerable 

 extent, and answer all the purposes of draining 

 admirably, while they may be plowed over and 

 cultivated as are other parts of the land, so that 

 there is no loss of surface and no disfigurement of 

 the fair face of the field. 



These drains are constructed of various materi- 

 als. They will last many years made of brush laid 

 lengthwise in the ditch ; but if a gullet is made 

 at the bottom 6 inches square by stoning, and the 

 ditch filled with small stones to within 12 inches 

 of the top of the ground, it will make a ditch that 

 will last a lifetime. 



Brush drains may answer the desired purpose, 

 where stones cannot be obtained; yet we question 

 whether it would be best to lay down such works, 

 where permanent drains are required. A field 

 drained with good and permanent covered drains, 

 presents a neat appearance ; there are no ridges or 

 gutters, but the entire surface is level and unbrok- 

 en. A cheap and convenient article may now be 

 had in draining tile, which possesses a permanent 

 efficiency and value. It is made of various sizes, 

 with and Avithout bottoms, and some of it perfora- 

 ted on the sides so as to receive the water at what- 

 ever point it may flow in upon them. 



We have a covered drain across a twelve acre 

 lot, diagonally, made of stones, with a six inch 

 gullet, which has supplied us with tivelve hundred 

 gallons of pure water every 24 hours through all 

 the late drought. On the ground thus drained, 

 we have just cut, by the estimation of good judges, 

 a crop of herds grass, red top and clover, equal to 

 three tons to the acre, where two years ago about 



