tity is not only useless, but it is absolutely injurious to fertility, 

 and must be removed to insure the proper growth of vegeta- 

 tion. Many interesting facts have been developed by experi- 

 ence even in this country, although a limited amount of atten- 

 tion has been given to the subject, going to show not only its 

 value in an economic sense, but also its importance in a sani- 

 tary point of view. In England, where thorough drainage has 

 been reduced to a science, it has elicited in its gradual progress 

 much lively discussion, and given birth to advocates of differ- 

 ent systems ; but the great difference of climate, topography, 

 and geological formation between this country and England 

 precludes the blind adoption by us of any system, no matter 

 how successful it may have been proved to be there. For our 

 own guidance we must look first to the character, the quantity 

 and sources of supply of the water which we wish to remove — 

 knowing this, the topography of the ground and the character 

 of the soil will determine the best course to be adopted in 

 removing it. 



Of the water on the park a portion flows from the adjoin- 

 ing lands, a quantity is developed in local springs, and some of 

 it is in stagnant deposits of rain water. From these sources a 

 large portion of the soil is saturated, cold and sour. The 

 immediate effect of this water in the soil upon vegetation is, 

 that the soil being stiffened to such an extent the roots of the 

 plants are unable to penetrate it, and are thus stifled in their 

 growth, or it is so cold that the roots are discouraged from 

 extending themselves sufficiently to obtain and afford the 

 proper nourishment to the plants, By the evaporation which 

 is constantly going on the heat of the surface is reduced, espe- 

 cially in spring and autumn, thus shortening materially the 

 period of vegetation. It sours the soil, producing a rank, un- 

 healthy vegetation. It occupies the soil to the exclusion of air, 

 thus depriving the roots of the most important accessory to 

 vegetation. It excludes the rain water, which contains the 

 elements of fertility. It causes surface wasting, and the conse- 

 quent formation of gullies and fissures. It causes the exhala- 

 tion from the soil of miasmatic odors, which taint the atmo- 

 sphere, and have a deleterious effect upon health. 



On the other hand, the result of thorough drainage will be 

 to cause the pulverization of the soil by removing the source of 



