UNDERDRAININa. 163 



climate of Great Britain, but thought it questionable whether 

 it would be prudent for Mr. Johnston to expend so much in 

 this dry climate. 



" I do not pretend to have reported their exact words, but 

 substantially so. As soon as I saw these remarks in the papers, 

 I answered them through the Albany Cultivator. Notwith- 

 standing all this, I still felt confident that my draining would 

 end well, as the excess of two years' crops after draining would 

 pay the cost, and I persevered, and the more I drained the 

 more I was convinced I was right, and I have not been disap- 

 pointed at the results, for my fondest anticipations have been 

 achieved." 



Other and similar results in our own country and in Scot- 

 land, England, Ireland and France, might be given, but this 

 one triumphant experiment, quoted from Mr. Johnston's report 

 on the subject, is deemed sufficient to confirm the argument 

 for deep and thorough draining. 



If any farmers in Norfolk county, or elsewhere in the Com- 

 monwealth, wlio have lands that need draining according to the 

 doctrines of this essay, let them, as Mr. Johnston said to his 

 once doubting, taunting, jeering neighbors, try an acre, and 

 wait for the results. Those who are willing to do so, will con* 

 firm the truthfulness of the views of such as advocate the 

 importance and absolute necessity of prosecuting the work of 

 deep and thorough underdraining, somewhat after the plan 

 herein set forth and maintained. But do not rest satisfied 

 when this first step of permanent improvement is taken, for it 

 you do, you will be ultimately disappointed in results. In 

 addition to draining, you must introduce deep and thorough 

 tillage, and besides, make a liberal use of fertilizers. 



The earth thus treated will be found a liberal rewarder, 

 returning the husbandmen, some thirty, some sixty, and to 

 others even a hundred fold. They who drain and till deeply 

 and thoroughly, and sow liberally, shall reap bountifully, and 

 thus have the satisfaction of seeing the work of their hands 

 prosper. 



