876 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



Aug. 15 



a tramp after supper over to our friends the 

 Hilberts. As it was between three and 

 four miles, up hill and down, mostly through 

 the woods, Mrs. R. got pretty tired, so I 

 went ahead and cleared the pathway for her. 

 Had we both been in our "teens," instead 

 of past 60, it might have been very pretty 

 to tell her it was going to be my happy priv- 

 ilege through life thus to make her pathway 

 a little easier for the tired feet, and may be 

 I did say something of the kind to her over 

 forty years ago. But, dear reader, I can 

 say it now with twofold more emphasis than I 

 said it then, and God intended it should be 

 so when he pronounced his blessing on the 

 marriage relation. 



Coming through the woods to the cabin, 

 when it was almost dark, reminded me of 

 the words in that Gospel Hymn: 



Let us find our sweetest comfort 



In the blessings of to-day. 

 With a patient hand removing 



All the briari from the way. 



Don't give me too much credit, friends, 

 for I well knew, when I was at work at it, 

 that Mrs. R. would, in a similar way, pay 

 me back many fold for all my pains, and I 

 suspect that is about the way with the 

 wives and mothers the world over. Divorces 

 would never be heard of after the children 

 are grown up if the Holy Spirit were allow- 

 ed to lead in the home. 



Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, 

 pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, 

 shall men give into your bosom. For with the same 

 measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you 

 again. 



This same idea may be carried out with 

 our neighbors, only it will, of course, require 

 more faith, perhaps more self-sacrifice. 



We have no automobile here, and, for that 

 matter, no horse and buggy. We must do 

 our visiting and going to church and Sunday- 

 school on foot. The question came up, 

 "Who are our neighbors?" I answered it: 



" Everybody — at least everybody within 

 walking distance in any direction." And, 

 dear friends, we have found much happiness 

 in getting acquainted, and so have found 

 some of the kindest and^esi neighbors any- 

 body ever heard of. 



On p. 658 (June 15), just above the front 

 door to the right you will notice a cluster of 

 small maples. Here is where our hammock 

 swings, and it not only affords a beautiful 

 view of Grand Traverse Bay, but during the 

 hottest day in July or August you are sure 

 to find a cooling breeze up there to fan you 

 to sleep when you are tired and need rest. 

 If it doesn't make you think, "Praise God, 

 from whom all blessings flow," you are in a 

 bad "frame of mind." 



Basswoods are now just in full bloom— just 

 about a month later than in Ohio. This 

 morning the whole woods was fairly per- 

 fumed with them, and the bees were making 

 such an uproar I could find a basswood-tree 

 every time by pushing out into the bushes 

 where I heard their loud humming. 



By the aid of the hoe, scythe, sickle, a.nd 

 lawn-mower, we have made the cabin once 

 more presentable; and w,e think that it and 



surroundings are not only ' ' a thing of beau- 

 ty " but it looks as if it might be "a joy 

 for ever ' ' to somebody. Every married 

 couple ought, at least once in their lives, to 

 start and build up a "home in the woods." 



THE IMPORTANCE OP TILE DRAINAGE. 



Thousands of dollars, and I don't know but 

 I might safely say millions, are lost, wasted, 

 and thrown away every year for lack of a 

 little investment in tile drainage. As you 

 ride over the country and look over the 

 fields you can see the yellow spots, and the 

 spots where there is no crop at all, just be- 

 cause of a surplus of water. It is true you 

 may not get your money back on the first 

 crop (this sometimes happens, however), but 

 farmers generally go through the motions 

 of raising a crop year after year all their 

 lives, without getting even half a yield 

 where they might have had a full stand all 

 over the field just by getting rid of the sur- 

 plus water; and when it is once done it is 

 done for a lifetime or more. 



A very valuable bulletin has just been 

 issued by the New Hampshire Experiment 

 Station in regard to tile drainage. From it 

 I copy the general summary below. My 

 experience is that it is orthodox in every 

 particular. 



Pole, slab, and stone drains have been superseded by 

 the modern tile drains. The use of tile is becoming 

 more and more extended every year. 



The effects of tile drainage are that the surplus water 

 is removed from the soil; the soil is better ventilated; 

 roots are given more room; the soil is made warmer; the 

 available moisture is increased. 



The size of tile will depend upon the fall and the area 

 drained. For mains. 4-inch, and for laterals 3-inch will 

 usually be found mo~t satisfactory and economical. In 

 laying drains get all the fall possible. 



For clay soils drains should be about 2V4 feet deep 

 and 35 to 50 feet apart. For porous sandy soils they 

 may be 3^2 feet deep and 60 to 100 feet apart. 



Select the lowest ground for the main. Have as few 

 outlets as possible. Put in laterals through the wettest 

 places first. 



If the fall is slight, have it accurately determined by 

 a competent surveyor. In other cases the ordinary car- 

 penter's or home-made water-level may be used. 



Begin digging at the outlet. Make the ditch just wide 

 enough for the man to work in. Be sure the bottom is 

 properly graded so that no low places are left in it. 



Round tile— hard burned, free from lime, straight, 

 smooth on the inside, and with ends square cut, are the 

 best. 



Place very hard-burned tile next to the outlet. Use 

 Y's for making all connections of laterals with mains. 



In filling the ditch, cover the tile first with loose dirt 

 or sand. The plow may then be used to advantage. 



The classes of land in New Hampshire needing drain- 

 age are, (1) meadow lands; (2) gently rolling tillable 

 lands; (3) lowlands around swamps or lakes; (4) low- 

 lands adjacent to salt water. 



Thorough drainage on most lands will cost $35 to $40 

 per acre. Many lands can be greatly benefited for $15 

 or $20 per acre. 



Those wishing the bulletin should address 

 the New Hampshire Experiment Station, 

 Durham, N. H. I think it might also pay 

 you to have our book, Tile Drainage, 40 cts. 



