Proceedings of the Farmers* Clue. 467 



letter, the place to be drained is like a small lake, having npland 

 around the margin. In managing my farm of eighty acres, in West' 

 Chester, I have had some experience in draining ; but I had no lakes 

 such as tins correspondent describes. The first and chief question 

 for Mr. Hillerand, or any other owner of swamp land, to settle is, 

 whether he has the proper outlet. This can be made sure only by 

 a good survey. The inflow of water from adjacent land must be cut 

 off, and then sub-drains may be made through different parts of the 

 swamp to good advantage. 



It will not subserve the desired purpose to cut a ditch through the 

 middle of the swamp. The true way is, if the expense of a large 

 dam is reasonable, let him first carry a ditch all around the margin 

 of the swamp. The water comes from the hills or higher ground 

 near, and a marginal ditch will cut off all that water, and the work 

 of draining the middle will be easy. When drained, such land will 

 be much more productive than the natural upland. It will grow any- 

 thing. Lime is'necesssary if the muck is very cold and sour. Herd's 

 grass is a good crop to begin with, but corn will flourish wonderfully 

 in four feet of black muck, when dry and warm ; and roots, and clo- 

 ver, and cabbages, and timothy. He can take three crops of hay each 

 season. As civilization advances, and capital drifts from cities back 

 to the country, the means of reclaiming low marshy lands are more 

 and more discussed. 



Dr. Isaac P. Trimble. — If a satisfactory outlet cannot be cut for 

 draining off all the water at the lowest point of the swamp, a large 

 syphon may be employed to carry it over a rise of ground. Begin- 

 ners should consult Waring on Drainage or Todd's Yoicng Farmers' 

 Manual^ either of which will give full details for making all kinds of 

 under-drains. 



Mr. James A. WhitneA^— If the water is drawn off in the autumn 

 the iVost will exert a very beneficial action on the soil, and I should 

 say that this would be a better time than any otlier to carry draining 

 operations into effect. The only way to kill out moss and other 

 plants that grow in wet, sour soils, is to make the ground so dry and 

 sweet that they cannot live in it. This is best secured by applying 

 lime after thorough drainage. 



Mr. Sereno Edwards Todd. — As all \he foregoing inquiries have 

 not been answered, I will state further, that all effort to exterminate 

 moss, or any other plants, will be of no avail until the surplus water 

 has been wholly removed. Before making any under-drains, the 



