1858. 
THE CULTIVATOR. 
11 
be raised, which will go farther and do more good than 
all the hay usually got from five times the same area.” 
Draining of Land '—What Hinders more Frequent 
Trials of it 1 
There are two facts in regard to drainage which 
seem deserving of some consideration, as a proper un¬ 
derstanding of their causes and significance may sug¬ 
gest or indicate methods of extending more widely the 
benefits resulting from a judicious employment of this 
very certain agent in increasing the fertility and pro¬ 
ductiveness of three-fourths of our lands. The facts 
to which we refer are these :—Firstly, those who have 
made trials of draining their land, are generally, so 
far as we are informed, well satisfied with the results, 
so much so, indeed, that many of them have continued 
their operations as fast as capital and labor could be 
commanded for the purpose. Secondly, few compara¬ 
tively have made any trial of this great improvement 
in agriculture, notwithstanding the oft-repeated and 
convincing demonstrations that it is a paying and most 
beneficial operation. Between these two facts there is 
a seeming incongruity. On the one hand we see or 
hear of farmers who eagerly avail themselves of every 
opportunity of extending the drainage of their farms, 
until every acre of land suitable for such kind of 
amendment has been very thoroughly underdrained. 
On the other hand, we behold the spectacle of hun¬ 
dreds and thousands—the great majority, indeed- 
shaking their heads and turning away, seemingly un¬ 
convinced or determined not even to try, when the 
most satisfactory and irrefutable proofs and demon¬ 
strations are placed before them, now and again, that 
draining is always a paying and highly advantageous 
operation. The former act as if they knew, as they 
certainly do, that the draining of land is a great im¬ 
provement ; and the latter act as if they also knew, 
which they do not, that all which has been said and 
written of its beneficial results were untrue, unreliable, 
or of no pecuniary or other importance, at least to 
them. 
But this slowness to be convined, or to act in accord¬ 
ance with convictions, may proceed from yet another 
cause, which we presume is the real one in a large pro¬ 
portion of the cases under consideration. This cause 
consists in a supposition that the process of draining 
land is one which requires some considerable skill, labor 
and capital, or that there are many things to render it 
very difficult and nearly impracticable. There are 
some, doubtless, who have heard, seen, or read enough 
to convince them of the advantages of draining this or 
that field of heavy clay or wet land, but are hindered 
by the supposition that they cannot secure the labor or 
capital required, and, even if these were to be had, 
that they have not sufficient skill to superintend and 
direct the several operations. There are difficulties and 
hindrances of the kind just named, we are fully aware 
and ready to admit, but they are greatly exaggerated 
by the timid and unwilling. The cost, for example, of 
a thorough drainage does not usually exceed $25 per 
acre ; and the crops are usually so much increased that 
even this outlay is sometimes returned, both principal 
and interest, in two or three years; while scarcely ever 
does a prudent manager fail to obtain from the extra 
crops produced by draining, a full return for all ex¬ 
penditures within five years. There can hardly be 
found, therefore, a better, safer, or more remunerative 
investment for capital. 
Then, again, as to skill or ability to direct operations, 
there are books and agricultural periodicals which fur¬ 
nish information sufficient to enable any one of reso¬ 
lute mind to understand and direct as to every thing 
requisite to success. 
But from questions put by some readers of our 
monthly, we incline to the opinion that the greatest 
hindrance of all in making trials of draining, is the 
want of a thorough and undoubting conviction of its 
advantages. When one gets at the real thought of 
some, we find that though not disposed openly and di¬ 
rectly to question or doubt such statements of its ad¬ 
vantages as have frequently been made, yet they 
secretly and in their heart have some doubt. They 
are not now fully convinced. Now the best way to remove 
this hindrance, is to have some proofs submitted to their 
senses. Then they would have to yield an undoubting 
belief. For this purpose a visit to a drained farm, or 
making a trial on a small scale for oneself, might suf¬ 
fice. Where neither of these can conveniently be done, 
we would recommend as likely to give some small proof 
of the good of draining, that a part of some hard clay 
or wet land should be ridged up in lands of one rod in 
width, with a deep dead furrow. The centre strip of 
each land will show some of the benefits of draining 
in a slight degree. 
-- 
Fruits for the South. 
As I am planting an orchard for the production of 
the different fruits, please give your views in the Cul¬ 
tivator, on the success of fruits raised north and south. 
I have purchased trees of different kinds from the 
northern nurseries, and have found them to fail here 
in this latitude, although soil and attention was the 
same, as they (the trees) received at their northern 
home. G. W. E. Macon, Miss. 
A part of the northern fruits do well at the South, 
and others fail. Peaches generally succeed there in 
favorable localities, and early apples; our northern 
winter apples are mostly a failure. The Duke and 
Morello cherries succeed best, more particularly the 
Early Richmond and Mayduke—the Hearts are often 
successful, but more uncertain. Some pears succeed 
finely, but more experience is needed with the different 
varieties. 
-- 
Canker Sore Mouth. 
Messrs. Editors—I herewith send you a receipt for 
that distressing or hateful disease, canker sore or baby 
sore mouth. I never knew it to fail if made right. 
Take the bark off of the root of black Haw, leaves 
and stems of Privet, and leaves and blossoms of 
Thoroughwort, (Boneset,)—make a*tea of each sepa¬ 
rately, and take of each as follows :—One cupfull of 
black Haw, the same of Privet, and one-third of a cup- 
full of Thoroughwort, and one-third of a cupfull of 
honey—shake well, and it is ready for use. Alum, the 
size of a pea, pulverized, is considered a help. Wash 
the mouth from six to twelve times a day, and swallow 
a little each time. Babies’ mouths can be swabbed with 
a soft linen swab, or put half or one tea-spoonful into 
its mouth, and turn its head so that the wash will pass 
all through the mouth. It must be frequently used, 
and it will certainly cure. Keep in a cool place or it 
will sour. j. 
4 
