UNDERDRAINING. 155 



method of breaking up and pulverizing the subsoil to a consid- 

 erable depth, and then raising it upwards, so as to mix it, in 

 any required quantity, with the surface soil ; and this it effects 

 by means of a subsoil trench plough of a peculiar construction. 

 But its chief merit is not seen by regarding it simply by itself; 

 it admirably adapts itself to the other great ameliorating pro- 

 cesses to which the soil is subjected, and renders them more 

 complete. Assuming thorough draining as an essential prere- 

 quisite, it appears to be the only method hitherto devised, which 

 on the one hand gives full effect to that operation, and derives 

 from it all the advantages of which it is susceptible ; while on 

 the other it deepens and improves the plant-growing soil, and 

 brings it into a condition which best fits it for benefiting from 

 manures and atmospheric influences. It may be regarded, 

 therefore, not only as an important discovery in itself, but also 

 just such a one as was needed to give full effect to many of the 

 most important improvements lately introduced into agriculture. 

 This will appear more fully as we follow Mr. Stephens into some 

 of the details with which his work furnishes us. It would 

 exceed the limits of this report to do this, and the committee 

 content themselves by recommending to those desirous of a more 

 thorough knowledge of this subject, to possess themselves of 

 Mr. Stephens' book. 



With regard to the expense of this mode of culture, the 

 same authority, after describing minutely the nature of the 

 Tester lands, which seems to present as formidable difficulties 

 to be overcome before reduced to regular cultivation as could 

 be found in the most rugged of our New England farms, 

 proceeds : " As the basis of all improvement in such a case, 

 without which every other operation would have been imprac- 

 ticable or nugatory, the lands were first subjected to a system 

 of thorough drainage. The drains were dug thirty inches 

 below the bottom of the open furrows of the round ridges, which 

 was equal to thirty-three inches below the level surface of the 

 ground, and placed eigliteen and thirty feet apart. The main 

 drains were dug four feet deep, bottomed with horseshoe tiles 

 and soles, having gravel occasionally placed above them ; but it 

 was found that the surface earth turned into the drain answered 

 all necessary purposes. The drains placed widest apart, viz. : 

 thirty feet, were found to drain the land sufficiently, especially 



