482 [Assembly 



I made three underdrains on my farm, on a sloping field, and 

 dug a hole down to one of them, and put a piece of stove pipe, 

 by way of chimney, to try what current of air would be found ; 

 and, as I expected, there was a constant up current. Over these 

 drains tliere has always been a superior growth of plants, because 

 the air from the drains is always rising through the soil and 

 leaving its ammonia and carbon in the soil, this also prevents all 

 injury to plants from drought, because the air constantly supplies 

 moisture. Take a demijohn and expose it to the heat of the sun 

 at 120 degrees Fahrenheit and yet you will find moisture in the 

 air contained in it. Mr. Wellington, of Massachusetts, who is 

 present, drained a meadow at an expense of one hundred dollars 

 an acre, and found it profitable becase he had from it four tons 

 of hay, when before he got but one ton ! 



Judge Van Wyck expressed doubts as to the profitable use of 

 draining in this country as a general thing, it may answer in 

 some special cases. 



Prof. Mapes remarked that England imported the inorganic 

 materials for manure in two hundred and fifty-eight ships last 

 year. How rapidly have our wheat crops sunk within a few 

 years past ! And why ? See everything carried off the fields ; 

 all the wheat, immense herds of cattle, hogs, animals of all 

 kinds 3 all their bones, &c., fore.ver lost to the lands which crea- 

 ted them. Let us take half a farm and do to that all that is done 

 to a whole one,*and all the dreaded expense of proper manuring 

 and working will be found overpaid by such crops as a just man 

 of common sense or of science rejoices to see. Dr. John Wood- 

 hull, by scientific farming, has brought up his crop of wheat 

 from 7iine bushels tofflysevm bushels on one acre! 



The eleven chemical constituents of soil must have added to 

 them the organics. The learned professions ought not to outrank 

 the farmers. They never can outrank an intelligent one. Some 

 of my neighbors, ignorant of the use of common salt in raising 

 plants, come to me for cabbage plants. I supply great numbers. 

 Charcoal dust, which was thrown away but a few years ago, (five) 

 now sells for one dollar a load. Those who used to pay six 



