Indications of Fei'tility or Barrenness of Soils. 559 
Distance 
bet 
'Drains. 
Length of 
UfsiDS in 
Furlongs. 
Feet 
of 
Pipes. 
Cost 
of 
Pipes. 
Forming 
Drains. 
Total cost 
per Acre. 
Feet. 
s. d. 
s. 
£ J. d. 
66 
1 
660 
3 2 
8 
0 11 2 
44 
990 
4 9 
12 
0 16 9 
33 
2 
1320 
6 4 
16 
1 2 4 
22 
3 
1980 
9 6 
24 
1 13 6 
164 
4 
2640 
12 8 
48 
3 0 8 
The ordinary distances may be taken at 33 and 22 feet, giving 
the length of drains 2 or 3 furlongs per acre. If land can be 
thus permanently drained for little more than a pound or a guinea 
and a half per acre, and if the closest drainage that can probably 
be required may be done for three pounds per acre, there will 
really be no longer any excuse for an undrained field in any part 
of the country. 
Ph. Pusey. 
XXXII. — On the Indications wliich are practical Guides in 
judginr/ of the Fertility, or Barrenness of the Soil. By John 
Bravender, F.G.S., Land-Surveyor, Cirencester. 
Prize Report. 
It appears rather surprising that the natural indications of bar- 
renness and fertility should have received little or no attention 
from agriculturists. They have hitherto appeared to pass over 
the subject as one tbat is not worthy of the notice or the study 
of the cultivators of the soil of Great Britain. Nevertheless this 
subject is really so important, that I feel totally incapable of do- 
ing it justice, and were I certain that any other person was now 
preparing a paper on the subject, I could not persuade myself to 
proceed : bemg only induced to do so from believing that it has 
been altogether neglected, and that any remarks, however meagre 
and imperfect, may arouse the attention of others better quali- 
fied ; that, possibly, any attempt, however feeble, to enlarge the 
means of securing a correct conclusion in matters of such im- 
portance might not be deemed altogether useless, although they 
might have originated with an individual in a humble sphere of 
life ; and that a few simple observations might pave the way for 
the introduction of a system more worthy of the notice of the 
world than any I could write or suggest. 
I need not describe the manner in which my attention was 
first called to this subject, or state the motives for undertaking, 
