FALLOWING. 65 



useless by this neglect, but it often becomes the local 

 cause of sickness and death. 



Various methods of draining have been suggested by 

 ingenious men, which are applicable to various soils. It 

 is the opinion of Mr. Burgess, that if the system was 

 thoroughly understood, and universally practised by ihe 

 farmers of Rhode-Island, it would add one third to the 

 value of the lands of the state ; and by many intelligent 

 men, it has been calculated, that should all the marshes, 

 and meadow lands of New-England, be drained and em- 

 banked, where necessary, that she could sustain twice 

 her present population. 



Ifthe drainis sma.i, a moderate quantity of oarth, grass, 

 or other matter easily cicgs it, and obstructs the passage 

 of the water : whereas, it it be large, exactl}^ the re- 

 verse takes place. If the di ain is wide, and the earth 

 taken from it removed to a distance, neither cattle nor 

 frost can fiii it up ; but in spite of the trampling of the 

 one, and the heaving of the other, a hollow musi sliii re- 

 main. 



The Farmer's Assistant gives tlie following method of 

 draining bog-meadows effectually : First run a ditch 

 through the middle, and draw off as much of its waters 

 in this way as possible. Where the mcddow is very 

 wet and niir}'^, commence at the lorcest part ofthe ground 

 where the outlet should be ; and thence carry the ditch 

 into the meadow, sinking it all the way, as low as Avill 

 barely give the waters a current to run off ; and the 

 deeper this ditch can be sunk the better. Then turn a 

 ditch proportionally deep all round the edge ofthe bog, 

 for the purpose of cutting off all the springs. Then 

 cross ditches are to be made, in number and size propor- 

 tionate to the extent ofthe bog, and ofthe size of (he 

 middle and surrounding ditches. Generally speaking the 

 deeper and larger the ditches, the fewer cross-ditches 

 need be made. It should be remembered, that bog lands 

 will settle down very much, after draining ; for which 

 due allowance ought to be made, in regard to the depth 

 of the ditches. 



To drain swamps, ditches ought to be of size and depth 

 proportionate to the extent of the swamp ; and the quan- 

 tity of water to be carried off. Those round the edges 

 of the swamp ought to be so plac«d as to r«ceiv« afl 



