336 
On the Drainage of Land. 
year why not another, and be still paying cent, per cent. ? Now 
this was not on bog or waste land, but on a good wheat and bean 
soil, of which there is such a large extent in this country that 
would pay, if not cent, per cent., something very near it. Such a 
return for money expended naturally led to a continuance of it ; 
and for some time past there has not been a furrow of ploughed 
land on the farm but is drained. I have heard some argue that 
draining injures land for beans; but it was equally plain it was 
beneficial to the bean-crop on the above land. 
Admitting of an Improved mode of Culture and Stocking. — 
This was my principal reason for draining the farm I occupy ; it 
was not by some considered a wet one, that is, there were a few 
drains made at the wettest parts, and a considerable portion being 
on a rubbly subsoil, though it was very wet at times, it did not 
continue so long wet as flat clay soils are apt to do ; still it would 
rot the sheep in wet seasons, and was too wet to keep them on 
at turnips through the winter to advantage. Now, after being 
thoroughly drained, I am in hopes of preventing the rot, and can 
feed my flock off winter or summer, grow turnips where they 
were never planted before ; in short, make it, as far as the nature 
of the soil will admit, a dry healthy stock farm, as I do not con- 
sider I have now more casualties than other flock-masters. 
There is no doubt that land which is dry will come to harvest 
earlier than that of the same description and situation which is 
wet, but to what extent in comparison with other districts any part 
has become earlier I have no knowledge ; but this can only be 
ascertained by careful observation, as the seasons vary so much. 
Reduction of Horse-labour on heavy Soils. — This will be the 
case so far »s regards ploughing, pulverizing, and keeping the 
land clean. I should say my land, which is more heavy in plough- 
ing than might be thought from its appearance, ploughs as easily 
now with three horses as it formerly did with four ; and as there 
are no wet furrows to encourage grass and weeds, the summer 
fallow is no longer necessary, which will somewhat lessen the 
number of ploughings. And when we also consider its ploughing 
up mellower, its requiring less dragging and harrowing to get it 
to a tilth, also no furrows or trenches to be ploughed out after the 
seed is sown, and likewise that you are often able to plough it 
from the land being dry, when otherwise you could not, or ought 
not — taking the above heads together, 1 should say there would 
be saved one-third of horse-labour, though some will say that the 
saving is a great deal more, provided the land is only kept as clean 
as before, but I would rather understate than overstate anything — 
on the other hand, from increase of crops, therefore more hauling 
of corn and manure, improved mode of culture (and on heavy 
soils it is not good policy to have barely strength enough, as such 
