On Draining. 265 



ing the tussocks could not be carted off, they were 

 spread over the surface, and the ground thus prepared, 

 was sown with herd grass, except a small piece which 

 was sown with timothy and clover mixed. 



In 1806, the crop was generally good, though in at 

 number of places a little water springing up and tena- 

 ciously retained by the very spungy soil on the surface, 

 was evidently injurious to vegetation. In other places 

 the water had formed little subterraneous currents, be- 

 tween the upper stratum and the clay below, and so 

 passed off by the drains ; where this was the case, the 

 grass was best. 



In 1807, the crop was considerably better. In some 

 places equal to any thing I have seen. Time appears 

 to have a good effect in forming these little subterrane- 

 ous currents, that convey the water into the drains, as it 

 seeps through the clay, below the upper stratum, and 

 as this takes place, putrefaction progresses on the vege- 

 table matter, in the soil above, and its productiveness 

 is in proportion promoted. 



With regard to the expence, nothing accurate can. 

 be stated, as no account was kept at the time. From 

 cai'eful estimation, it may be safely set at about jS 25 per 

 acre, including every thing. This is certainly conside- 

 rable, but it is only in few cases, where expence to such 

 an amount will be necessary, as this piece of ground 

 was in every respect among the worst to reclaim I have 

 ever seen. But in fact, a few dollars of expence are 

 of no moment, in recovering a piece of ground, that is 

 expected to be permanently productive, and that in a 

 high degree, without the addition of any yearly expen- 



Y V 



