39 



money and labor which has been expended upon it would liave 

 been of very little benefit. In sliort, under drainincf is the foun- 

 dation of the whole improvement. 



But our time is limited, and we must drive along up a gentle 

 acclivity, a short distance ahead. Here we respectfully ask you 

 to look at two fields of moist upland, which were naturally alike, 

 as wc happen to know, for we have passed over this road before. 

 Both fields have been cultivated in the same manner for a cen- 

 tury at least, until about two years since. Both are situated, as 

 you perceive, along the base of a hill, and have a gradual slope 

 towards the meadow which we have just looked at. Both were 

 naturally somewhat stony. The soil of both was black and moist 

 — the subsoil of clay, resting upon a bed of hardpan. During 

 the last two years one of them (which we will call field No. 1 ,) 

 has been thoroughly underdrained, with stones and tile, there 

 being small stones enough on the field to construct most of the 

 drains. The other (which we will call No. 2,) has not been 

 drained, but otherwise has been treated like the first, having had 

 the same quantity of manure applied to it. On both fields a crop 

 of corn, of the same variety, is to be raised the present season. 



We will suppose it is now the last of May. Now, gentlemen, 

 let us examine these two fields. We will look at No. 1 first, if 

 you please. You perceive that the soil is light and spongy ; there 

 are no stones lying about on the surface ; the blades of corn have 

 already made their appearance, and look vigorous and healthy. 

 You will please notice there are very few " ??u"&s-hills ;" the corn 

 has " come up" very evenly ; there are no " wet spots" where it 

 looks yellow and sickly. The prospect is that the after cultiva- 

 tion will be easy and pleasant, the harvest both plentiful and 

 profitable. 



Now let us go upon the adjoining field — No. 2. What have we 

 here ? 3Iud. Yes, mud like mortar, soft and sticky. The soil 

 is completely saturated with stagnant water which oozes from the 

 base of the hill. A part of the field has evidently been planted, 

 but the corn has scarcely begun to come in sight, and Avhat few 

 blades we see, look pale and feeble. There are plenty of stones 

 lying about upon the surface ; there are several deep gulleys, 

 where much of the soil and some of the manure have been washed" 

 off by the recent heavy rains. The prospect is, the after cultiva- 

 tion of this field of corn will be neither easy nor pleasant ; the 

 water will evaporate, and the mud will probably dry up, and, 

 then, instead of mortar, there will be bricks. The soil will bake 

 and become hard and lumpy instead of light, spongy and friable ; 

 the corn will have to struggle for existence, whether the season is 

 wet or dry; the harvest will be any thing but plentiful and 

 profitable. 



