152 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



dryest, and supposed not to need draining at all, but now so 

 wet comparatively, as to require to be underdrained forthwith. 



We have made in the lot entered, 8,910 feet of underdrains, 

 on an average more than three feet deep and twenty-five feet 

 apart, at an estimated expense of nearly seventy-five cents per 

 rod. The brush used was the trimmings of an old orchard on 

 the premises, which were crowded into the open ditches and 

 forced down to a foot in depth and covered with boards, salt 

 hay, or sods, before filling in. The stone drain consisted of 

 small stones collected by trenching and cultivation elsewhere, 

 and thrown in generally to the height of eighteen inches and 

 covered uniformly with very coarse gravel, abundance of which 

 was at hand. On the joints of the tile, pine shavings were 

 freely used, and old shingles over many of these ; but if 

 tile are made to fit well to each other, we are satisfied that 

 nothing whatever should be placed over the joints or next to 

 the tile but the clay itself, taken from the bottom of the ditch. 

 The imperfect tile, as yet in the market, greatly disappoint 

 those engaged in underdraining. We obtained the most per- 

 fect we have ever seen, from Albany, N. Y., made vritli double 

 sole — a sole on opposite sides — admitting of four different 

 positions in laying, one of which would generally fit the tile 

 previously laid. 



Of the improved productions noted from year to year, our 

 statements might seem incredible to those who have not seen 

 the crops, we therefore forbear. 



The indirect fertilizing results of thorough drainage are appar- 

 ently of more service to crops than common manuring on wet 

 undraiaed land ; but when fertilizers are applied in addition to 

 those absorbed from the atmosphere, rains, &c., by the well 

 drained and porous soil, the effect is truly gratifying. 



Newburyport, September 27, 1858. 



Statement of James Stevens. 



Five years ago I commenced cutting a drain on a cold, wet 



and flat piece of land, which had for many years been planted 



occasionally, and then sown down to grass. Sometimes we 



would get a few fair crops, and then a kind of sour, round grass 



