ILLINOIS DAIRYMEN'S ASSOCIATION. 75 



rial prosperity stands out before us in its proper proportions. Some one has 

 said that the road of a country's prosperity has been made over a firm grass 

 sod. Certain it is, that as far as localities are concerned, good grass regions 

 prove the truth of this statement. 



While it is true that grass is Nature's universal covering, and that some 

 variety of it will grow upon almost every soil, yet a large part of the product 

 is of little value to the dairyman by reasoi\ of its poor quality, light yield 

 and other drawbacks incidental co climate and soil. Nature adapts vegeta- 

 tion to the soil, and not soil to vegetation. The grasses adapted to arid and 

 shallow soils, as well as those which thrive best upon wet soils, are not suit- 

 able for dairy feeding, smce the first yield too little in quantity, and the sec- 

 ond are too poor in quality. I am speking now of the products of soil 

 in its natural state. The improvement of grasses by a proper treatment of 

 the soil, as suggested by observation and experience, is a profitable theme 

 for consideration. The poet says : 



" Each soil hath no liking for every grain, 

 Nor barley nor wheat is for every vein ; 

 Yet know I no country so barren of soil, 

 But some kind of corn can begotten with toil."— Twsser. 

 The qualities of grass especially sought after by our dairymen are : 

 First— Abundance of yield ; 

 Second— Excellence of quality ; 

 Third— Length of feeding season. 



It is the purpose of this paper to discuss the influence of drainage upon 

 the grass products of our dairy sections, and also its bearing, in a general 

 way, upon this important industry. 



GENERAL NEED AND INFLUENCE OF DRAINAGE. 



Those occupying the grain-producing sections of our State have taken 

 up underdrainage as the panacea for poor crops. There are many localities 

 in our State which, for many years reported " no corn," " no wheat," " no 

 oats;" "poor grass." " Why V " "Too wet." And again the same cry 

 has come to our ears, made more ringing and despairing, echoed by empty 

 cribs and granaries, "No grain!" "Why" "Too dry." But the inani- 

 mate drain-tile, molded from the clods at our feet, has since made these fields 

 speak of plenty and raised their owners to affluence. 



It has been the universal practice to turn all fields which for any reason 

 were unprofitable for cultivation, into pastures and meadows. Hence we 

 see almost every pasture largely made up of hilly or flat and swampy lands, 

 often the receptacle of all of the surplus wash of the adjoining fields. If a 

 field proves too wet for cultivated crops, it is seeded to grass. If it is too 

 wet to produce hay, it is fenced and pastured. This is often done under the 

 delusion that good, sweet grass will grow anywhere, and that no land is too 

 poor for pasture purposes. It is wise for us to take these things as they are, 

 and investigate with a view to improvement. Our cows sometimes speak 

 very emphatically to our pockets, at least, and say, " Give us good food and 

 plenty of it, and we will give you an abundance of rich milk." While we 



