Agriculture of Scotland. 



95 



very extensively applied, it is now happily in a fair way of quickly 

 working a revolution in many parts of Scotland, rendering land, 

 which was scarcely worth 10s. an acre, equal to double and treble 

 its former value. The object of this effectual method of draining 

 may be said, in comparison with that first noticed, to be rather to 

 prevent the pernicious effects of superabundant moisture than to 

 remove the cause of it ; and the principle of the system has been 

 described by its author as the providing of frequent opportunities 

 for the water rising from below, or falling on the surface, to pass 

 freely and completely off ;" and therefore he has appropriately de- 

 signated it the frequent drain system." However desirable it 

 would be here to give a full detail of the mode of operating so 

 important an improvement, it would be inconsistent with the de- 

 sign of this essay, and occupy too much space, to enter upon it with 

 such minuteness as would be available for practice. We must 

 therefore be contented with referring to the very clear and intelli- 

 gent description of the system by its author, as published in a 

 cheap form by Messrs. Drummond, of Stirling. It may be enough 

 at present to say, as descriptive generally of the manner of exe- 

 cuting the work, that after main covered drains of greater depth 

 have been carried along the hollow parts of a field, into these are 

 conducted narrower and shallower parallel drains, filled with 

 small stones, at regular distances, varying from 10 to 40 feet 

 apart, according to the nature of the soil. These are directed to 

 be carried " throughout the ivhole field, ivithout reference to the 

 wet or dry appearance of distinct portions ; " and it is recom- 

 mended to lay out the ground, after the operation is concluded, 

 without ridges. The expense, as given by Mr. Smith, is esti- 

 mated from ?>l. to 12Z. per acre, according to the frequency of the 

 application ; and as, to be substantially performed, it is an im- 

 provement which requires the assistance of the proprietors of the 

 soil, it is to be regretted they have hitherto in so limited a num- 

 ber applied themselves to the extension of an improvement so 

 eminently calculated to effect a change so devoutly to be wished, 

 as fraught with such important consequences to the country. 



A modification of this principle has been, in some lands, suc- 

 cessfully employed, and we have no doubt there are many instances 

 where every object may be gained, and a saving of a great part of 

 the expense effected, by a judicious limitation of the general plan 

 laid down. In the same way the subsoil-plough has, we are in- 

 clined to think, been in frequent instances too indiscriminately 

 applied, and an equal or better effect, it is presumed, would be 

 produced on many soils at much less expense by a thorough appli- 

 cation of the common plough with additional strength, so as to 

 bring at once to the surface a substance which, being amalgamated 

 with an impoverished or weak soil, would wonderfully assist its 



