260 , IMPROVEMENT OF THE SOIL. 



Stratum h meets with resistance at f, open drains must be 

 sunk at d and c, to conduct it off into some stream, in or- 

 der to deprive the whole of superabundant water. It is not 

 often that more than one water-bearing stratum crops out, 

 and the most important point is to determine the cause of 

 the wetness, in order to save time and expense in conducting 

 it off. 



Necessity of draining. The necessity and importance of 

 draining wet grounds, may be rendered evident by the fol- 

 lowing considerations. 



1. An excess of water or moisture prevents the ploughing 

 and pulverizing of the soil until late in the season, and when 

 the attempt is finally made, it can but imperfectly succeed ; 

 hence the manures, not being properly incorporated with the 

 soil, are deprived of their effect upon the roots. The crop is 

 checked and is liable to be injured by early frosts. 



2. An excess of moisture prevents the process of decay, or 

 the decomposition of the organic matters in the soil, and thus 

 cuts off a regular supply of food. This effect is exemplified 

 in peat-swamps, where the vegetable matters being prevented 

 from decay by water, accumulate in large quantities, to the 

 depth often of 20 feet, and form peat. 



3. Lands which have an excess of water, often become dry 

 and compact in seasons of drought. The roots are thus not 

 only prevented from penetrating the soil and from extending 

 themselves freely in all directions, but the influence of the 

 air, and of the dew, which are so important in dry weather, 

 are almost wholly excluded from them. Hence such soils, 

 especially if they are stiff clays, suffer as much from drought 

 as from excess of moisture. 



4. When the roots of plants extend into a wet soil, the 

 food is too much diluted, or is not prepared in sufficient 

 quantities to ensure a healthful and vigorous growth. Leaves 

 and ill-formed shoots will sometimes be abundant, instead of 

 flowers and fruit. There are a iew plants which will flourish 



