32 



with stores of ammonia and carbon, penetrate more readily a soil 

 freed from stagnant and noxious waters, and leave their fertilizing 

 properties in the earth, which immediately absorbs them, to nour- 

 ish the growin<^ plant. The ])eneficial eifects of thorough drain- 

 age is said to have been illustrated by an agriculturist in France, 

 in a simple manner, which brings it at once to the comprehension 

 of every mind. " Take," said he, " this flower-pot. What is the 

 meaning of this small hole, at the bottom ? To renew the water. 

 And why to renew the water ? Because it gives life or gives 

 death ; — life, when it is made to pass through the bed of the 

 earth ; for it leaves with the earth its productive principles and 

 renders soluble the nutritious properties destined to nourish the 

 plants ; — death, on the other hand, when it remains in the pot, 

 ibr it soon becomes putrid and rots the roots, and also prevents 

 new water from penetrating." 



In connection with thorough drainage for the earlier cultivation 

 and maturity of the crops, we had intended to present for consid- 

 eration the deep ploughing which should follow it ; and the nature 

 and application of the manures best suited to aid in producing its 

 beneficial results. But the limits to which we are obliged to con- 

 fine ourselves, forbid our entering upon these topics. We cannot, 

 however, forbear to suggest the importance of a thorough disinte- 

 gration. of the soil in the mechanical preparation of it for the seed ; 

 the importance, also, of an early planting of those crops which 

 require a long season for their maturity ; and the use of ashes, 

 guano, or a rich compost, as a stimulant in the corn hill and on 

 the grain field. 



Irrigation is a method of fertilizing grass lands of which the 

 intelligent cultivator, in favorable situations, may avail himself 

 with great advantage and at comparatively little cost. It is not 

 common in this section ; but wherever introduced and judiciously 

 managed, it has been attended with satisfactory results. A dis- 

 tinguished American agriculturist, who had observed much of it 

 in Europe, remarks, that, in his opinion, '• there is not a cultiva- 

 ted portion of the Union, the productiveness of which might not 

 be increased one-fifth by irrigation." A farmer in the State of 

 New York, who had practised it for four years upon a farm favor- 

 ably situated with a stream running through it, says : " The lands 

 irrigated were formerly the most difficult I had to keep in grass 

 or meadow, being mostly of a gravelly loam soil, and requiring 

 constant applications of manure, and ploughing every three or 

 four years, to keep it in tolerable condition. I now take a heavy 

 crop of the best quality of fine, early made hay, without any re- 

 turn of manure but the simple water of the stream. 



" I close these grounds from my stock the first of April. They 

 are then fit to mow early in June, and will be ready, a few days 

 after mowing, for pasturage ; and will carry more stock at grazing 



