452 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
[Jan. 1, 190L 
IKAINAGE OF LAND. 
Too much .attention cannot be paid to tiiis 
siibject. Artificial draining is the primary part 
of successful agriculture, and even in the earlj 
days of Home, tlie draining of land was exten- 
sively carried on. 
how' to know when draining is necessary. 
1. — Whenever after rain water remains in the 
furrows or stump holes. 
2. — When the soil sticks to your slioes or horses' 
feet and farm tools. 
3. — Whenever you see water in the footpiints 
of a hoi'se or other animals. 
4. — When animals sink deeply into the soil. 
5. — When the rays of the sun form a hard 
crust on tlie soil. 
6. — Whenever after heavy rain the little holes 
in the ground show more water in them than 
in other parts. 
7. — If after rain a stick is put into the ground 
and taken out, water will lise in the hole, 
8. — If crops will srrow better when land is 
gathered up into small ridges 
In the first place we get rid of the stagnant 
water, both on the surface and below it. Stagnant 
water lias an injurious effect on vegetation, it 
is deprived of its oxygen, ami while it remains 
in the soil it prevents fresh water from taking 
its place. Water held in suspension is detrimental 
to plant life and must be kept moving, it also 
opens the foil and lets the air in after it. The 
theory of draining is well illustrated by a flower- 
pot with a hole in the bottom, the water will 
either give life or death to the plant ; it gives 
life when it can pass through the pot, but plug 
the bottom up and let the water stop, and death 
is the result. 
SOME BENEFITS TO BE DERIVED FROM DRAINING 
LANDS. 
1. — Draining lemoves stagnant water from the 
surface and subsoil. 
2. — It lengthens the season, well-drained land 
can be woi-ked much sooner after lain. 
3 — It deepens the soil. 
4— It warms the soil by stopping evaporation. 
5— It equalises the temperature of the soil. 
6 — It carries down soluble substances to the 
roots of the plants. 
7 — It prevents injury from drought and wet. 
8 — It improves the quality and quantity of 
the crops, 
9. — It increases the effect of the manures. 
10.— It prevents the heaving of the soil. 
11 — It halps to prevent disease in plants. 
12 — It increases the general health of the locality. 
A good soil, with a gravel subsoil, need not 
be drained, but with a stiff clay subsoil it is 
necessary. The deeper the drains aie the further 
apart tiiey may be placed. Before commencing to 
lay down a system of drains; an outlet for the 
main drain must be found, and the drains marked 
out so as to give the necessary fall, a fall 
of Sins, in a 100ft. will be sufficient, the bottom 
of the drain must be kept smooth and must be 
carefully graded. Care must be taken to avoid, 
if possible, bringing the subsidiary drains in at 
right angles to the main drain, as this impedes 
the flow of water at every junction. The mala 
drain should be made amply large enough to 
cany off (he water from all feeders. Great 
difference of opinion exists as to the depths 
of drains, they vary from l^ft, to 6ft., much 
depends on the nature of the soil, retentive 
soiU require deep drainage, the deeper the drains 
liie wider they may be apart — Journal of the 
Jamaica Agricultural Society. 
PLANTrNG NOTES. 
Mr. J. EI. BuEKiLi, an ass'stani in the Her- 
barium at Kew, and formerly in that at Cam- 
bridge, has been appointed assistant to Dr. M'att, 
the Reporter of Economic Products, Department 
of Agriculture, in Calcutta, and will leave this 
country in January nest. — Gardeners' Chronicle. 
Large Shibment of Apples.— We learn from 
Boston, U.S.A., that some two or three weeks 
since the largest slii|iment of Apples on record 
was made from that port for Liverpool. This 
shipment consisted of 28,283 barrels of all the 
best varieties .-suited for the Christmas market. 
—md. 
LivNEAN Society.— On the occasion of the 
evening meeting held on Tbur.sday, "December 
20, 1900, at 8 p.m., the following papers w.ll 
be read: 1. "On the Structure and Habits of 
the Animocharides," by Mr. Arnold T. Watson, 
F.L.S., cSrc. 2. "The Flora of Vavau, one of the 
Tonga Islands," by Mr. T. H. Bui kill, M.A., F L.s. 
"Warning Colours in Insects," by Prof. 
E. B. I'oulton, M,A,, F.R.s , y.h.s.—Ibid. 
A Wonderful Iris,— Mr, Peter Barr writes 
to us from Victoria, regarding a new German 
Iris staged by Miss Love at a local show : — 
"Those who visiced the Tatura Show on Wednes- 
day, October 17, must have .'^een Iris Painted 
Beautj'. It was corspiouous in the fine, but 
crowded, box of cut flowers staged by Miss Love, 
of Tatura, and was, during the day. the cynosure 
of the exhibits. Its beauty was of a very ex- 
ceptional, marked, and distinct character. An 
expert gave it as his opinion that no Iris of so 
much refined beauty had ever before been seen in 
this or any other country. It beloncs to the group 
commonly known as German Iris. The flower 
is pure white. — Ibid. 
"Frosting" Shrubs.— Your correspondent, 
" W. C," will find the following method satis- 
factory if carefully followed out. Procure a tub 
or pail according to the size of the .'hrubs or 
branches to be treated, put in enough whiting 
and water to make it of the consistency of paint, 
then add enough liquid-size to make it adhesive 
— about a pint to a pailful of mixture; well stir 
it together, and keep it stirred while using. 
Having the shrubs ready at hand, dip them in 
the mixture, then let the supeifluous stuff run 
off; having ready a flower-dredger containing 
"Jack Frost Powder " (which can be purchased 
at any good fancy shop), and sprinkle the shrubs 
there with while moist ; let the dressing diy 
gradually, and keep them in a dry place till 
wanted. Small pieces of the common Gorse 
dressed in this way, and placed in pots or dishes 
with a groundwork of small Ferns and moss, 
make a striking contrast to small Codissums and 
Cocos Palms for the decoration of the dinner- 
table for the Christmas season.— A, S. CoLE, Mon* 
creiffe Gardens, Bridge of Earn, N.B,— /fcic?, 
