90 BIG SPRING PRAIRIE. 



rapidly in value. Before the real value of the land was 

 known, little effort was made to check the ravages of 

 prairie fires, unless they threatened fences and other 

 property ; but now such means are employed as are 

 illustrated by Fig. 5. Mr. Johnson was practically 

 acquainted with the Creston Marsh, Scioto Marshy 

 Hog Creek Marsh and other similar areas. He knew 

 what amount of ditching was required to render these 

 marshes fit for successful culture of the various crops 

 to be grown upon them. On the Creston Marsh, a five 

 to ten acre field surrounded by ditches is well drained, 

 while but little more ditching is required to drain the 

 Scioto and Hog Creek Marshes. Mr. Johnson, not 

 recognizing that Big Spring Prairie is a peculiar area 

 on account of the great water content of the soil and 

 its capacity for holding same, at first, constructed his 

 lateral ditches 25 rods apart. He soon learned that 

 this was not sufficient to drain this land properly, and, 

 after experimenting, found it necessary to construct 

 either tile or open ditches every 4 rods. On account of 

 the origin of the soil water from the enclosing ridges, 

 the temperature of this soil is lower than that of the 

 other marsh areas mentioned ; but this very factor 

 renders this area most suitable for the successful cult- 

 ure of celery and onions. It also accounts for the 

 presence of the Betula pumila and the Salix myrtil- 

 loides on the natural prairie areas. Fig. 20 gives a 

 typical scene on Wild Rose Celery Farm. 



In 1901, Mr. Edwin Brown caused the heath C of 

 Map II. to be cleared off, and 20 acres of it were planted 

 to onions. This crop netted him about ;$1200.' This 

 gave an added impetus to the cultivation of the prairie. 

 At present the principal crops are onions, celery, pota- 

 toes, and other garden truck. The various onion 

 growers are learning from experience that the amount 

 of drainage required on other marsh areas of Ohio with 

 which they are acquainted, is not adequate for the 

 successful cultivation of the Big Spring Prairie. 



