UNDER DRAINING. 
47 
the means of their detection, by voluntarily taking 
a course, which the former might think it unsafe 
to follow. 
Secondly , as to the quality of the wool. • It is no 
great gain to get heavy fleeces, if the quality is en¬ 
tirely, or to a great extent, sacrificed. Dr. Emmons, 
our State Geologist, visited Mr. R. last summer, and 
selected various samples from his wool. These 
were carefully measured and their strength tested in 
comparison with wool from other celebrated flocks, 
by accurate instruments. The result, with draw¬ 
ings of the wool, was given in the July, August, 
and September numbers of the American Quarterly 
Journal of Agriculture for 1845. The wool of Mr. 
R.’s prize ram above alluded to, decidedly exceeded 
that of Grandee, the best ram of the Rambouillet 
importation, and supported a greater weight, or, in 
other words, was stronger in proportion to its 
diameter. It as far exceeded various rams of early 
importation. Mr. R. has many ewes of equal 
quality. Like the Rambouillets, these sheep are of 
large and fine carcase: but unlike them, are short 
in the leg, and the ends of the wool are usually 
coated with a dark gum. It is barely tipped with 
the gum, say for one-eighth of an inch. Within 
that, and to" the skin, the wool is a glossy white, 
and freer from hard gum, I think, than the Ram¬ 
bouillet. This outer crust is a great protection 
from rain and cold, and does no hurt, as it readily 
scours off in the process of manufacturing. 
I have made these remarks in justice to a flock of 
which, as a citizen of Cortland county, I feel proud, 
not having seen any particular description of them 
hitherto in the Agriculturist. L. 
Cortlandville, Jan. 5, 1846. 
UNDER DRAINING. 
The advancement of agriculture within the few 
last years in this country, the high price of farm¬ 
ing lands, and the value of products, and cheapness 
of labor within convenient distances of our larger 
markets, all justify the commencement of an intelli¬ 
gent system of draining, on such lands as require 
it. This system has for many years been intro¬ 
duced and largely practised in England and in Scot¬ 
land, and it has resulted in the most signal success. 
The plan fust adopted, was, to excavate the land 
in parallel lines, at intervals of 16 to 25 feet, to the 
depth of 2 to 2J feet, forming a slightly inclined 
plane on the bottom, which was from 3 to 6 inches 
wide, and gradually enlarging as it approached the 
surface. The narrowest drains were arched with 
inverted turf and clay, at a height sufficient to al¬ 
low of the requisite space at the bottom for the es¬ 
cape of whatever water might filter through the soil. 
Others were formed with continuous arched tiles 
laid on the bottom, forming an uninterrupted con¬ 
ductor. Larger ditches were filled with rubble 
stone, and in some instances brush, to a sufficient 
depth, and then covered with soil. In all cases the 
smaller ones communicated by their outlets with a 
large open drain, which carried the water beyond 
reach. These drains, with their required coverings, 
are always below the reach of the plow, thus leav¬ 
ing the whole surface of the land open and unob¬ 
structed to cultivation. 
Two recent improvements have been introduced 
which materially diminish the expense, while they 
enhance the benefits of the system. They consist 
in sinking the drain to 4 feet; and using baked clay 
or tile pipes 4 to 6 inches in diameter, and 12 to 18 
inches in length, connected by allowing the de¬ 
scending end to enter the next below it as a socket 
The trifling opening thus afforded at each joint, with 
small holes perforating the top of the tiles, is found 
to be sufficient to admit all the water which falls 
into the drain; while the increased depth at which 
the drainage takes place, draws the water from a 
much greater distance. With the depth indicated, 
it has been found that the drains, instead of being 
required once in 16 to 25 feet, may be placed at 
intervals of 40 to 50, and accomplish the object 
with equal success, and in less time. The expense 
of the former plan was from $20 to $30 per acre, 
while the last is only from $12 to $18. 
The advantages of under draining are numerous 
and important. I will briefly state some of them. 
They take away all the surplus water which exists 
in heavy or tenacious soils, which, in wet seasons, 
are a serious impediment to the successful growth 
and perfection of vegetation; thus always ensuring 
a full crop, when frequently not one-fourth of a 
crop is matured on similar undrained soils. They 
allow of early cultivation in spring, and late in au¬ 
tumn, by furnishing a dry, warm soil, which before 
would not admit of cultivation except in the warm 
part of the season; thus enabling the farmer to 
grow a greater variety of products where only a 
few were adapted to the soil before, and to these it 
gave several weeks’ additional growth. It saves all 
the trouble and waste of surface drains, and open 
furrows, which require that much of the land be 
left almost in an unproductive state, to serve as con¬ 
ductors of the surplus surface water. The rains 
falling on the convex surfaces of the lands, run. 
off rapidly into the furrows, and not only prevent 
the benefit to the soil which w r ould result from its 
absorption, but they carry with them much of the 
fine soil, which is thus allowed to waste. 
This last is an item of incalculable importance to 
the farmer. Rains are charged with some of the 
most important elements of nutrition to plants, and 
especially contain considerable proportions of car¬ 
bonic acid and ammonia. If these be permitted to 
percolate through the soil, the roots of the plants, 
or, in their absence, the elements of the soil itself, 
absorb and form permanent combinations with 
them, by which they are held till the demands of 
vegetation unlock them for their own use. Air is 
also highly charged with the elements of nutrition, 
and ^ it is necessary that this should penetrate 
through every portion of the soil where the fibres 
of the roots exist. Soils which are saturated 
with water, do not admit of any air, unless the 
small proportion combined with the water; and from 
all such, this vital adjunct of vegetation is exclu¬ 
ded. By draining off' all the surplus moisture for 
a distance of 3 feet below the surface, innumerable 
minute fissures are everywhere opened, through 
which the water passes, and these are immediately 
filled by atmospheric air, which thus traverses the 
soil in every direction, imparting to the rootlets of 
the plants their contained aliment, or storing up 
their useful properties with the soil for future use, 
and facilitating those necessary changes, modifica¬ 
tions; and recombinations in the elements cf the 
