300 Transactions of the A 31 eric an Institute. 



September 19, 1871. 



Nathan C. Ely in the chair; Mr. Joiin W. Chambers, Secretary. 

 Draining. 



Mr. A. Elmar Cory, Palatine Bridge, K Y. — The subject of 

 drainage is of such importance that it cannot be discussed too often. 

 The great drawback to this kind of improvement is the expense, 

 which farmers hesitate to assume. 



Surface-drainage can be done much cheaper than underground. I 

 do not know of any machine specially adapted to this purpose. So 

 far as my knowledge extends, ditching machines and dirt-scrapers 

 are like potato-diggers, lacking in something. 



If your Club can shed any light on this subject, and reduce the 

 expense of moving dirt and making ditches, you will do me a favor, 

 and thousands of others who are desirous to "wade in" this kind of 

 improvement. 



Mr. F. D. Curtis — I think our correspondent is mistaken about the 

 expense of draining in connection with the great benefits to be 

 derived. I have in my mind a field situated in Charlton village, 

 which, as long as I can remember, and probably for nearly 100 years, 

 as this is an old settled country, has been very moist — in fact a 

 swamp — and produced nothing but bog grass, almost worthless. Last 

 year the owner ran a number of narrow, deep drains through the 

 field, and this year he has a crop of corn growing on it, which I am 

 sure will pay for all the cost of drainage. There is a machine for 

 ditching now on exhibition at the fair of the American Institute, but 

 I have not examined it, and cannot speak of its merits. When I was 

 in Leavenworth, among other good things seen was a new dirt- 

 scraper, made at Maywood, 111., so constructed that the draft is near 

 the ground, and the balance so perfect that it can be held with two 

 fingers, and it will readily carry a great load. Those of us who have 

 fever held the old-fashioned road-scraper need not be told what a task 

 it is, and how straining it is upon the holder ; but with this machine 

 there is no strain at all, and two horses will handle it easily. I was 

 more impressed with the new scraper because of its cheapness, and 

 because I saw in it an escape from the tortures of the old ones, which 

 I have had tl}e honor to endure when trying to " mend my ways." 



Prof. J. A. Whitney — Excavating machines, such as are used in 

 railway work and other departments of civil engineering, have been 

 brought to a high degree of perfection ; but, so far as I know, there 

 is no machine in existence fitted for excavating a ditch for drain-tile, 



