No. 216j 787 



other hand, of whatever class, ought gratefully to acknowledge the 

 value of those improvements, which at once render their homes more 

 salubrious, and their fields more fruitful. Drainage then, in the first 

 place, changes the soil, improves the climate, and adds to the health 

 of the surrounding people. 



In the second place, it deepens the soil, dissipates the water, 

 and cleanses the subsoil of unprofitable ingredients. All in their 

 place renders the land capable of producing all the cerealia, by the 

 free admission of atmospheric air. 



Three years since, I made seven and a half miles of stone under 

 drains, on a piece of bog land. The ditches were dug to the depth 

 of three feet, and were three feet wide at the bottom. A wall was 

 carefully laid on each side, twelve inches wide and twelve inches 

 high, leaving a twelve inch opening, over which flat stones were 

 placed, and the interstices filled up with small stones ; the whole 

 were then covered with dirt; shortly after, the field was ploughed, 

 harrowed, and seeded with rye, clover and red top. The crop of rye 

 was a fine one, grain weighed 60| pounds to the bushel, and the 

 grass made capital pasture after the rye was harvested. This land 

 had never been cultivated before; and was always avoided by cattle, 

 on account of the numerous quicksand holes contained in it. I 

 brought all the drains to a point, and there formed a chain of two 

 ponds, 800 feet in length and 14 feet deep ; also a circular pond of 

 less dimensions, connected with them. The muck taken from the 

 ponds amply remunerated me for all the expense incurred ; they are 

 now stocked with European carp, pickerel, shad, and fish from the 

 great lakes. 



I would not have the gentlemen who hear me, understand, that to 

 drain a piece of ground effectually, it is only necessary to construct 

 a drain with a suflficient descent to carry off the water it contains, 

 but that it is indispensable they should know the structure of the 

 field's upper crust, its capacity of permitting water to course through 

 it, the varieties of strata of which it is composed, its porosity, &c. 



Some fields are not capable of allowing water to pass them at all, 

 on account of oblique strata running through them, and forcing the 

 water to the surface; such fields may be considered unfit for agricul- 

 tural purposes, and any expense laid out upon them by the proprie- 

 tor, for the purpose of draining, would be a dead loss. Before this 

 system is commenced, I would advise the farmer to examine his soil, 



