788 [Assembly 



and subsoil; find out of what materials they are composed, their 

 depth, degrees of inclination from the horizontal, &c. 



The subsoil is most generally entirely different from the surface 

 soil; the surface may be composed of clay, and the subsoil of sand^ 

 or gravel, in which case deep subsoil plowing will answer all the 

 purposes of a drain; most effectually breaking up the clay surface, 

 and thus enabling the sand or gravel to absorb all the excessive 

 moisture. I have heard farmers say they derived no benefit from 

 draining, although in their estimation their drains were perfect, 

 having been made at great cost, and of proper materials, with suffi- 

 cient descent, &c. Upon examination I found they had not sub- 

 soiled their land, the consequence was, the clay subsoil being reten- 

 tive, held the water in almost a stagnant state, which was absolutely 

 poisonous to all vegetation above it. The only benefit the farmer 

 derived from his drains was an improvement in the soil directly con- 

 tiguous to them. Whereas, it is indispensably necessary that the 

 whole field drained should be subsoiled as deep as possible, the hard 

 pan must be broken up, when the water will readily find its way to 

 the drain, and through it to the level sought by the cultivator; you 

 must not, therefore, consider the work accomplished until your land 

 is perfectly tilled, and the air admitted to all the pores recently filled 

 with water. Most farmers not bearing this fact in mind, construct 

 their drains so shallow, that it is impossible to subsoil; and conse- 

 quently they have deprived themselves of all the advantages to be at- 

 tained by its adoption, and their drains are comparatively speaking, 

 almost useless; draining and deep ploughing go hand in hand togeth- 

 er, and it is by combining their eflfects, and the greatest improve- 

 ments to the soil is accomplished. 



Irrigation is another subject before the club this morning for dis- 

 cussion; and although of vast importance, is not as necessary for us, 

 in my estimation, as drainage; for the reason that our climate is 

 blessed throughout the growing season with an abundance of water, 

 except in a few isolated instances. It is the art of watering lands in 

 an artificial manner by means of channels, with a view of increasing 

 their productiveness. In eastern countries the heat of the climate is 

 such, that without flooding, lands which now yield most abundantly 

 would be completely sterile. The simile made use of by Isaiah to in- 

 dicate desolation, is " a garden that hath no waier." Cato, 150 years 

 before the birth of our Saviour, requested the Italian agriculturists to 

 " make water meadows if they had water." The principal rivers in 

 northern Italy, the Tagliamento, Po, and Adige, are used for the 



