8 PERMANENT AND TEMPORARY PASTURES 



be wasted, it is satisfactory to remember that superphosphate 

 of lime and other forms of phosphoric acid are never thus 

 lost. Nor does it appear that potash is easily abstracted, so 

 that there need be no hesitation in applying these substances 

 from fear that they will be carried away by the drains. 



It may be accepted as a general truth that grass land 

 should not be drained so deeply as arable land. The weight of 

 engines and heavy agricultural machinery has not to be allowed 

 for, and there is no doubt that grass can advantageously absorb 

 more moisture than corn crops. Further, the roots of most 

 grasses do not penetrate very deep, and therefore it is desirable 

 to have the water somewhat nearer the surface than on the 

 arable part of the farm. 



As to the practical part of draining I need say but little. 

 There are tracts of country without any arterial drainage, 

 no river or stream being available into which drains, if laid, 

 could discharge their effluent. The remedy is generally 

 beyond the power of private individuals. Work of this 

 character can only be carried out by Government, or under 

 parliamentary sanction by companies possessing large funds. 

 This subject will, no doubt, one day claim attention from 

 statesmen. Scientific engineering has rendered the task 

 possible ; the real difficulty lies in its cost. Meanwhile, in 

 such exceptional districts, pastures having no fall for drain- 

 pipes may be considerably improved by a system of gutter- 

 cutting on the surface — a practice which would often be service- 

 able on land subject to floods. Water should not be allowed 

 to lie on portions of a field after the main stream has retired 

 sufficiently to enable this water to flow if only a channel were 

 provided. 



The manner in which drainage should be carried out in 

 any particular case depends on soil, chmate, and other cir- 

 cumstances, which must of course be taken into account, 

 although they concern the details and not the principle of 

 the work. The diffisrence between the rainfall in the eastern 



