78 ILLINOIS DAIRY3IEN'S ASSOGIATI0N. 



ceases to flow, but in the morning a small stream may be seen issuing from 

 the drain. This is the result of the moisture of the atmosphere which was 

 condensed in the soil during the night. Col. Waring asserts that "the lawns 

 of the Central Park which are a marvel of freshness when the lawns about 

 the park are burned brown, owe their vigor mainly to the drainage of the 

 soil." The roots of some of our best grasses often extend to a depth of three 

 or four feet. Good grasses if they grow at all on wet land must adopt a shal- 

 low root habit and thereby be subject to all the changes that a variable 

 climate can bring upon them. 



ROTATION OF CROPS. 



It is well undrstood that the production of grass by no means covers the 

 dairyman's farming interest. He must grow grain and forage plants for 

 winter use. He must practice rotation of crops and make every acre of land 

 produce to its full capacity. Ko waste and useless spots should be left in a 

 cultivated field. In short it should be the aim of every dairy farmer to bring 

 his land into such a condition that it will produce some profitable crop. If 

 possible it should be so drained that a rotation of field crops is possible upon 

 any part of it. 



WILL IT PAY ? 



Draining costs money, but if the preceding statements are true, as I be- 

 lieve they are, it is costing money every year not to drain. But the objector 

 says, " I can better spend my money in the purchase of Western land. I can 

 buy five acres of wild land for the sum that the drainage of one of my swamp 

 acres would cost me." Yery well, but your swamp acre when drained hold- 

 ing the location that it does, would yield you an income equal to that which 

 you would be likely to obtain from ten acres of wild land. I merely suggest 

 this, that it will be the part of wisdom for the dairyman to look over his 

 farm and determine what part of it is producing nothing, one-third or one- 

 half of what it should produce, and determine whether, at the present price of 

 drainage work, he can longer afford the annual loss resulting from the neg- 

 lect to improve his wet land. 



I take the liberty of quoting the words of a few Illinois dairymen as left 

 recorded in the reports of previous years, which have a practical bearing 

 upon what has already been said upon the subject of drainage. 



M. H. Thompson :—'' The first essential of a good dairy farm is to have 

 it without sloiagh, mountain, foul stuff or mortgage." 



Dr. Woodward :— " Did not want too much wet or low land. Perf erred 

 rolling lands for dairy use. 



Thos. Bishop :— " Preferred rolling land not too wet or too dry; upland 

 stood more drouth." 



D. C. Adams :— ■" Sloughs should be drained by tiling or ditching, and if 

 by the latter, the ditches should be covered or fenced." 



HOW TO DRAIN. 



It is not the purpose of this paper to give details pertaining to the work; 

 a few leading suggestions are all that will be attempted. Study the soil from 

 a drainage standpoint, that you may know the depth and frequency of drains 

 that will be suited to your purpose. Determine whether ditches or tiles 



