No. 144.] 511 



The first question was proposed by Mr, Field, of Brooklyn, who 

 not being present, Mr. Pell stated that he would make a few 

 remarks on 



DRAINAGE. 



The first thing to be considered by the agriculturist on a farm 

 is, whether it requires draining, and there are but few farms that 

 do not, although until very recently it was only considered as the 

 means of relieving land from springs, and consequently applied 

 to excessively wet ground, chiefly producing aquatic plants. 

 Moisture has great influence on local climate, even on lands appa- 

 rently dry. Fogs frequently arise which serve as a conveyance 

 for decomposed matter into the air, rendering it impure, besides 

 producing chills and otherwise injuring health. Wherever sur- 

 plus moisture accumulates, holding animal or vegetable substan- 

 ces in solution, you will find fever and ague prevails. 



In traveling through a country undrained, you will observe 

 that the air is cold and chilly, which changes to a mild and genial 

 temperature the moment you come upon a drained district. The 

 reason is, that every inch in depth of water taken off" by the 

 drains, which would otherwise evaporate, saves as much heat on 

 each acre as would raise ten thousand million cubic feet of air at 

 least one degree in temperature. Evaporation is greater in sum- 

 mer than at any other season of the year, and there is a difference 

 of seven degrees in the summer temperature between drained and 

 undrained land; consequently, we can to a certain extent pro- 

 duce a genial climate by draining. The following are the prin- 

 cipal advantages, agriculturally speaking, to the farmer, by the 

 drainage of his land. 



1st. He removes excess of moisture, which prevents the air 

 from penetrating the soil, and assimilating nourishing matter for 

 the plants. 



2d. He facilitates the absorption of enriching substances by the 

 earth, and consequently diminishes its waste, by surface evapora- 

 tion, and being carried off by heavy rain storms. 



