59 
The farmer who has a little rill, ravine or draw running through 
his field along which a line of shrubbery has grown up, when clean¬ 
ing up his land, offended by the sight of this, is careful to clear it 
away lest he he charged with negligence and unthriftiness. The con¬ 
sequence is that when the rains fall the water is carried off rapidly, 
taking more or less of the soil with it. The warm sun coming out, 
soon dries up and evaporates the moisture. This is a great error. 
Every one of these ought to be carefully preserved by retaining the 
shrubbery if already there, or planting it if already taken away or 
wanting. Want of proper care in this respect more than counteracts, 
as I believe, the beneficial effect of all the trees that are planted. 
Another method of assisting in retaining moisture is by forming 
ponds and surrounding them with shrubbery and trees. This might 
and ought to be carried on to an hundred fold greater extent than 
it is at present done. I believe it is possible to form ponds in many 
places in the interior of our State of sufficient extent to be used for 
manufacturing purposes, where now towns are almost wholly without 
water for this purpose. 
