6o ILLINOIS STATE DATRYMEN'S ASSOCIATION. 



Seward, Marengo ; J. R. McLean, Elgin ; I. Boies, Davis 

 Junction ; Luther Bartlett, Bartlctt ; Prof. F. Hall, Sugar 

 Grove ; I. H. Wanzer, Oneida ; Chas. Boone, Winnebago ; 

 John Smallwood, Freeport ; L. B. Parsons, Flora ; Capt. 

 W. H. Stewart, Woodstock; H. W. Mead, Hebron; N. 

 Eldred, Oilman, Illinois. 



S. W. KiNGSLEY, Chairman Com, 



Question No. 9 — '* The effects of drainage on differ- 

 ent soils, and the best system employed " — was taken up. 

 Upon this topic, R. M. Patrick read the following paper : 



R. M. PATRICK'S PAPER. 



Mr. President, and Gentlemen of the Illinois State 

 Dairymen' s Association : In giving my views upon the 

 subject of drainage, I will state they are the result of some 

 twelve years of practical experience upon a farm of 480 

 acres — which has rapidly increased in productiveness, and, 

 more recently, owing much to more perfect drainage. 



The lands which most need draining in this country 

 are low lands, made rich by alluvial deposits left upon them 

 by the overflow of streams, or the wash from higher lands 

 surrounding them, and the decayed rank growth of coarse 

 vegetation. These lands, being of an alluvial character 

 mixed with rich vegetable growth, form the richest land 

 known, and when thoroughly drained are capable of pro- 

 ducing the most luxuriant crops, and in this climate in a 

 succession of years prove more productive and more 

 valuable than much of the higher and dryer land. The 

 natural growth of grass upon these low, undrained lands is 

 coarse, sour and almost valueless for dairy purposes. 

 Without drainage it is impossible to cultivate these lands 

 successfully, or to raise the sweet cultivated grasses which 

 are so necessary for producing a fine article of butter or 

 cheese. So these lands — the richest known — when un- 

 drained remain of little value. 



There is another class of lands, situated higher, which 

 seem dry upon the surface, but the water line is so very 

 little belov/ the surface that the season is far advanced 

 before the water gets well out of the tillable soil, and the 

 crops of grain or cultivated grasses on such lands are 



