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UNDERDRAINING LAND. 



Your committee, consisting of George W. Chadwick, Joseph 

 How, Horace C. Ware, George G. Creamer and T. C. Thurlow, 

 had but one application for premium — viz. : that of William 

 W. Perkins, of Newbury. Accordingly, in September, all the 

 members (excepting Mr. Ware, who was unable to be present), 

 met with Mr. Perkins, and after looking over the land very 

 carefully, and hearing Mr. Perkins' statement, agreed to award 

 to him the first premium of fifteen dollars. Appended will be 

 found Mr. Perkins' statement. We consider it a very good, 

 economical job, but should differ with him in some slight par- 

 ticulars. Mr. Perkins also furnished us with a carefully drawn 

 plan, from which it appears there were two main ditches, near- 

 ly parallel, about 280 feet apart, dug through the middle of 

 the field; in these, three inch tile were used, and there were 

 running into them thirty-one lateral ditches, varying in length 

 from 175 to 325 feet, in which were laid two-inch tile. These 

 lateral ditches were from 35 to 50 feet apart — through the low- 

 est ground about 35 feet, while on higher and dryer land, 40 

 to 50 feet. The two main ditches, with all the laterals con- 

 nected, then empty into another ditch 558 feet long, in which 

 is laid four-inch tile. Nearly all of this last ditch was through 

 a pasture, and added considerably to the cost of draining the 

 field ; the land in the vicinity being so nearly level, it was im- 

 possible to find an outlet, without going a long distance. An- 

 other thing should be taken into the account ; Mr. Perkins in 

 draining this field of six acres, has really drained more or less, 

 all the land adjoining, so that the actual cost per acre, for 

 draining, is much less than he computes it ? We cannot but 

 hope that ere long many of his neighbors who are similarly 

 situated, will go and do likewise. Mr. Perkins considers that 

 he is paid in this year's crop, for all the expense of draining. 



In regard to the importance of underdraining generally, 

 your committee are fully agreed. There is on nearly every 

 farm some piece of land — perhaps it may be a natural hollow, 



