100 



the beauty of a field, and are undesirable, like ulcers or sores in 

 a man's face." 



The Rev. Mr. Todd, (Jonathan Todd, of East Guilford, Ct. it 

 is supposed, now Madison), wrote to Mr. Eliot, informing him, 

 that "' our swamps seem by far the best land we have for Indian 

 corn. My little swamp this year, (1751), yielded at the rate of 

 about 90 bushels of corn to the acre, and was easier and cheaper tilled 

 than upland." 



The Fall, he learned from experience, is the best time to plough 

 drained swamps, as late as October or even later. They plough 

 easier than in .Summer and decompose much more rapidly. Thus 

 did Mr. Eliot feel his way by experience. 



In his " First Essay" he says, " When I engaged in this affair, 

 (draining) it was with some distrust end uncertainty. I am sure 

 last year I should have been glad of such an history of facts (as 

 imperfect as it is), [alluding to his own essay] ; it would have af- 

 forded me light, courage and instruction. As to what remains 

 forther to be done, I should be glad to meet Avith an experienced 

 person to give me directions. Our reasonings and speculations 

 ■without experience, are delusions and uncertain. It used to be 

 the saj'ing of an old man, that "^m oiaice of experience is better 

 than a pound of science." But what Mr. Eliot earnestly coveted 

 then, is what farmers need to-day, i. e. " practice with science," 

 each being essential to the completion of the other, both being in- 

 dispensable to the perfecting of the art of good husbandry. 



Previous to 1810, a valuable series of essays on agricultural 

 subjects .was published in the columns of a newspaper in Virginia, 

 with the 7io}ne de plume., Arator. Six of them are devoted to the 

 subject of draining. When it was known that "Arator" was Col. 

 John Taylor, of Carohne County, Va., a United States Senator, a 

 distinguished statesman and farmer, his Essays were collected and 

 published in a book, and went through several editions. 



After treating of the importance of draining swamps and low 

 lands, so ably done by the Rev. Jared Ehot, more than fifty years 

 before he Avrote, Col. Taylor urged the importance of draining 

 arable lands. " Considerable districts of flat, stiff and close land 

 are soured by stagnant water and baked by the sun for the want 

 of draining, so as to increase labor, diminish crops and taint the air. 

 Sometimes this rigid land, though intended for Indian corn, is left 

 unbroken through the winter and retains its excessive moisture for 

 want of a declivity to discharge it ; at others, being followed land, 

 the water became a menstruum for melting down the soil into a 

 brick-like cover, which is rendered excessively hard by the sun-." 

 " For these misfortunes, draining is the only remedy." High 

 ridges and deep furrows were recommended, — for, said Col. Taylor, 

 " our agriculturists are hadly prepared for the plainest improve- 



