588 Abstract Report of Agricultural Discussions. 
embarrassed tlie execution, and added to tlie expense, of later works 
undertaken in a more comprehensive spirit. Anxious as he was, 
therefore, that this great subject should be taken up everywhere in 
England, he thought nothing could ultimately be more prejudicial 
than that partial and ineffectual attempts should be made, rather than 
the day waited for when comprehensive plans might be wisely 
tmdertaken. 
Sir John Johnstone, M.P., in moving a vote of thanks to Mr. 
Bailey Denton, expressed his concurrence with most of his views on 
draining free soils, and his satisfaction that that gentleman's valuable 
services had been extended to Yorkshire. He had ridden over Mr. 
Dent's property ; he knew perfectly well what had been the condition 
of some of the fields, and he hoped that when he next rode over the 
estate the horses would not labour so much. Everybody in Yorkshire 
was disposed to do justice to Mr. Parkes in connection with the 
parallel draining of clay soils ; but Mr. Parkes, like many other 
gentlemen, thought that parallel drains might be placed in the Vale 
of York 30 or 40 feet apart, and the consequence had been that many 
persons had been compelled to put intermediate drains in order to 
make the drainage effectual. What was said by Mr. Denton with 
respect to the effect of di-ainage on rivers was well worthy of attention. 
In Yorkshire, mills had in many cases been taken dowTi and steam- 
power substituted for them. He agreed with Mr. Denton that 
England could never be effectually di-ained unless some gi-eat public 
works were undertaken for the purpose of improving the outfalls of 
the rivers towards the sea. The loops in the streams were in some 
places so complicated that the water could not get away, and hence he 
believed in some cases the land was in a worse state under deep 
drainage than it ever was before. 
Mr. Fisher Hobbs said. As a director of a land drainage company 
which had the able assistance of his friend Mr. Denton, he had pur- 
posely abstained from following that gentleman in his remarks, in 
most of which he agreed, especially those with regard to porous soils. 
He thought that the report of that meeting would be of gi'cat service 
as regarded di'ainage generally. The landlords generally did not 
appear to be aware how desirable it was to adopt different systems of 
drainage according to the varying character of the soil. Upon his 
own property he had adopted the system which was so well carried 
out many years back by the late Mr. Elkington, and was glad that 
name had been mentioned, because he tliought that if they were to 
carry out the Elkington system more than they did in tapping springs, 
adding the test-holes to which Mr. Donton alluded, porous soils 
would be drained more effectually and at less expense. 
Mr. Wells, of Eedleaf, Kent, said he wished to ask Mr. Bailey 
Denton whether the Government luspectors, who now inspected so 
much of the drainage of the country, allowed persons discretion as to 
draining as they were advised, or whether they did not, on the 
contrary, impose stringent regulations ? 
Mr, Bailey Denton said, As he acted very much under inspection. 
