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senting a Avidc, unbroken surface of tillage and mowing land. 

 The land being springy, and much of it sloping from surrounding 

 hills, large portions have been thoroughly drained, by opening 

 ditches of great depth and -width, into which an almost incredible 

 quantity of rocks and stones have been judiciously laid, and then 

 the excavated soil replaced. And, although the labor required 

 has been hard and at times disheartening, yet the result will, 

 beyond question, be remunerative, in the returns of a much larger 

 superficial capacity, and higher temperature of the soil. The 

 improvement Avill, also, be a permanent memorial of the intelli- 

 gence, industry and perseverance of the farmer, upon which his 

 posterity can look with grateful pride and satisfaction. 



In a discussion of the subject of drainage, at a late meeting of 

 the Society, in Dedham, it was remarked by a gentleman who is 

 perfectly conversant with the matter, that " drainage is regarded 

 as the greatest agricultural improvement of the nineteenth cen- 

 tury." It is a subject which yet remains to be considered and 

 understood by the mass of farmers in this country. And we 

 cannot do them a better service than by recommending to their 

 careful examination the treatise on drainage, recently published 

 by Hon. Henry F. French. This Avork is the fruit of much 

 observation and reflection by an eminently judicious, practical 

 farmer, as well as sound scholar, and is believed to be the most 

 thorough work upon the subject adapted to the w^ants of the farm- 

 ers of New England. 



We have often had occasion to remark upon the tenacity with 

 Avhich many farmers still keep their swamps and swales in a natu- 

 ral condition ; under a false idea that, in this condition, they pro- 

 duce more grass than would be possible if they were drained. 

 The fact is, as experience has often proved, that, if the work were 

 properly done, they would yield at least an equal if not greater 

 quantity of grass, while the quality of it w^ould be superior. In- 

 deed the beneficial effects of drainage, upon all such lands, can 

 hardly be over estimated. If judiciously applied, it changes and 

 ameliorates the whole character of the soil. It may also be safely 

 and with benefit resorted to, whenever a moderate degree of mois- 

 ture remains apparent in the earth through the season. Nor 

 needs the common fear of the effect of drought to be regarded. 

 For, contrary to the general apprehension, and paradoxical as it 

 is, experience has proved that the most thoroughly drained lands 

 are least affected by excessive droughts. Even the proper use of 

 the subsoil plough is known to be followed with a similar result. 

 And so highly is the temperature of moist lands raised by thor- 

 ough drainage, that a fiirmer in the eastern part of INLune, who 

 has tiioroughly drained his farm, now says of it, that his farm has 

 been removed to Maryland ; and that, whereas, he could once 

 only grow potatoes and p()(;r grass, he can now raise and enjoy, 



