94 



REPORT ON ESSAYS. 



The Committee have received two Essays, — one on Indian Corn 

 and one on Thorough Draining. 



The Essay on Indian Corn, although replete with chaste thought 

 and beautiful hmguage, is not deemed sufficiently practical for the 

 pages of this volume. 



The Essay on Draining, by Leander Wetherell, Esq., of Boston, 

 is pertinent to the subject, and creditable to the ability of the 

 ■writer. It evinces much research and good judgment, as to the 

 authorities quoted, and although not embracing so much experience 

 on the soils of Massachusetts as Ave could desire, it is full of prac- 

 tical hints, and is considered worthy of a place in the publications 

 of this Society. The Committee award to Mr. Wetherell a pre- 

 mium of ten dollars. 



MARSHALL P. WILDER, Chairman. 



ESSAY ON DRAINING 



BY LEAKDER WETHERELL. 



In a new country, where the land is fertile and cheap, costly 

 investments for permanent improvements, such as deep tillage 

 and thorough underdrainings, are not likely to engage much at- 

 tention. But as the population increases, and the fertility of the 

 soil diminishes by annual cropping, it becomes necessary to em- 

 ploy artificial means to check or stay the annual deterioration of 

 the soil and to increase its productiveness. The first step in the 

 work of improvement, is, to free the soil from an excess of mois- 

 ture. Unless this be done, the husbandman fails to receive the 

 returns for his labor and money employed in tilling and fertilizing 

 his lands, that he would secure by freeing them in the first place 

 from an excess of water. To do this, it is necessary to resort to 

 the art of draining. Owing to an excess of moisture, there is 

 much arable land in this Commonwealth that fails to produce re- 

 munerative crops. Then besides this, there is much swamp and 

 bog land, rendered unproductive by being partially or entirely 

 covered with water. The art of draining, when properly applied, 

 removes this prolific cause or source of infertility. 



The subject of draining is beginning to excite inquiry and in- 

 vestigation among the farmers of the older States. No essential 

 means of permanent improvement has been so much neglected 



