BY DRAINING. 95 



15 to 20 dollars an acre in draining, has often been repaid 

 by the extra product of the reclaimed land in two or three 

 seasons. 



Wet soils proceed from two causes, viz., first, from 

 the rain and snow waters which fall upon the surface, 

 which are arrested in their downward course, by an im- 

 pervious stratum of earth or rock, and, if the surface is 

 level, or nearly so, repose and stagnate there, rendering 

 the soil compact, wet, and cold, and infertile. And, 

 secondly, from waters which, having passed through 

 porous strata, are arrested by an impervious stratum lower 

 down ; and, operated upon by a constant pressure, find 

 their outlet upon the outcroppings of the impervious stra- 

 tum, or are forced up again in the form of spouts and 

 springs, — and which impart to the soil which they saturate, 

 an excess of moisture, and a cold temperature, wholly 

 unsuited to the growth of farm-crops. 



The first object, in seeking to rid lands of surplus 

 water, is, to determine from which of the above causes 

 the evil arises ; — and having ascertained the cause — 

 having located the fountain of waters — the next considera- 

 tion is, how to get rid of, or drain it, with the least ex- 

 pense, and with most benefit to the land. 



A stiff soil, as one of clay lying upon a slope, or 

 being upon a level, and having a porous subsoil, may be 

 sufficiently freed from water by throwing the land into 

 ridges, terminating in the lower level. These ridges may 

 be narrow or wide, according to the tenacity of the soil, 

 and the slope of the surface. This is one kind of sur- 

 face-draining. 



In hollows and other depressions of surface, where 

 waters accumulate suddenly, from thawing of snow or 

 heavy rains, open drains should in all cases be made ; 

 and these should be of capacity to receive all the waters 

 which may come into them, and of sufficient slope at 

 the sides to render their banks secure and permanent. 

 These are also to serve as outlets to the under-drains. 

 Surface-drains of this kind are often wholly insufficient, 

 by reason of their not being deep or broad enougli, or 

 they become contracted from a want of care in scouring 



