caution, that you should keep the outlets of all your 

 drains clear, and scour the main drain whenever it 

 requires it. Where stones are scarce, and tough sods 

 plenty, sod draining- in many cases will answer well ; 

 this operation proceeds quickly, and only requires a 

 spade of a particular make. Wet land, Avhen perfectly 

 drained, becomes loose and productive ; otherwise it 

 is of very inferior value ; if under grass, its herbage 

 will ])e stunted and sour, and sheep fed upon it will 

 take the rot. Immense portions of land in Ireland 

 (be-sides the turf bogs) are half waste, from want of 

 draining. Every day, idle famihes of men, women, 

 and cliil<lren, are to be seen, who might be profitably 

 employed in cutting and filling drains. The man whx) 

 has idle hands at home, and possesses an undrained 

 field, deserves to be poor and miserable. 



The opposite description of land is that which has 

 a shingly or gravelly bottom ; here the moisture escapes 

 too fast ; but, alas ! you cannot I'emedy this deficiency ; 

 however, when I come to treat of cropping, I shall 

 gijve you a few hints as to the best mode of farming 

 on it. 



No. II. 



Tlie soil with anxious skill prepare. 

 Or 'twill not recompense your care. 

 But Avith pernicious weeds be fraught, 

 Like mind neglected and untaught. 



I shall now tell you how to prepare your land for 

 cropping. The treatment must, in a great measure, 

 depend upon the nature of your soil ; if it be stiif 

 and wet while it is in course of tillage, rib it up care- 

 fully in Manter, and keep the furrows clear ; if the 

 land have a sudden fall, these fujTows should be 



