1849. 
THE CULTIVATOR. 
175 
from two causes. The roots of plants have more scope 
in a loose soil, and are thus enabled to draw support 
from a greater source. A mellow soil is also most 
moist, in time of drouth—pulverization favoring the as¬ 
cent of moisture from below, as well as its absorption 
from the atmosphere. A heap of moulding sand will 
seldom dry but to a little depth, while hard clay in the 
same situation will become almost destitute of mois¬ 
ture. 
Professor Norton, in his lecture on draining given at 
Hartford in 1847, states that during the extreme drouth 
which prevailed in Scotland in 1845, it was found that 
in all ordinary cases, the crops on drained land with¬ 
stood the dreuth much better than those on undrain¬ 
ed, because of the greater depth of soil available to 
the plant.” And he adds that u it is now a proposition 
regarded among the best English and Scotch farmers 
as completely established, that -drained land is not only 
better in wet seasons, but in dry seasons also.” {Culti¬ 
vator for Jan. 1848.] 
The full benefit of subsoil plowing , on tenaceous 
soils, cannot be fully obtained without thorough drain¬ 
ing. If the water is not drawn off', it soon packs the 
soil together again, after the plow has been used. Prof. 
Norton states, that where drains have been laid at pro¬ 
per distances in hard-pan soils, the air and rains soon 
break up the crust, the water filters through into the 
drain, and the ocheous deposit is gradually dissolved 
and carried^away. Air and heat being thus admitted 
Into the soil, the noxious compounds which had there 
formed are decomposed, and wholesome food for plants 
as produced. 
In regard to the question—Where is it proper to 
make drains ? it may he said that they are necessary 
wherever the character of the natural vegetation indi¬ 
cates water. Rushes, ferns, and what are generally 
called water grasses, always grow where there is too 
much water in the soil, at certain seasons of the year, 
for the growth of the more valuable plants. When the 
soil is properly drained, these aquatic plants can no 
longer live. There is scarcely a field on any common 
farm, that has not spots that would be benefited by the 
drain, even for grass, and still more for grain and ve¬ 
getables. The farmer thinks, perhaps, that as the pro¬ 
duce of grass is apparently large, nothing is wanting. 
But it must be recollected that the produce of wet laud 
is of less weight and value in proportion to its bulk, 
than that of dry land. If the land is in pasture, ani¬ 
mals will reject the herbage that grows on these damp 
spots, till forced by hunger to eat it. If the grass is 
made into hay, the same reluctance of animals to eat it 
is manifested, and their loss of flesh when kept on it, is 
evidence of its want of nutriment. Prof. Norton states 
that analyses of samples of grain from two fields, one 
drained and the other undrained, showed a decided in¬ 
feriority in that from the undrained field. It is plain, 
therefore, that draining not only increases the quantity 
of produce, but also improves the quality. 
Another great advantage of draining, is the preven¬ 
tion of grain and grass from being “ winter-killed.” 
This effect is caused by sudden freezing of the ground 
while the surface is wet. Land on which wheat and 
rye have been very uncertain from this cause, are found 
to produce the best crops after having been thoroughly 
underdrained. 
But the advantages of draining in a sanatory view, 
are in many instances of the highest importance. It is 
well known that stagnant water is very prejudicial to 
health. In those sections of our country which are par¬ 
ticularly subject to bilious fevers, and fever and ague, 
the soil usually abounds in vegetable matter, and during 
wet seasons is flooded with water, which frequently co¬ 
vers a large portion of the surface for several days or 
weeks, and finally goes off* chiefly by evaporation. Sad 
experience has taught the inhabitants of those sections 
to regard such floodings as the precursors of sickness. 
Similar causes have produced like effects in Europe. Au 
eminent physician, Dr. Me Nab, observes—“After twen¬ 
ty-six years’ practice, I venture to add, that I have 
scarcely ever had a case of-typlms fever in a malignant 
form, without discovering some stagnant drain, or over 
charged cesspool, or some other manifest cause of ma¬ 
laria, in the immediate residence of the patient.” An 
other writer observes in reference to the situation of a 
neighborhood where fevers had prevailed—“ Most of 
the houses surround an undrained common, full of pools 
of stagnant water, that in the winter season overflow. 
In the summer months, and greater part of the spring 
and autumn, they are stagnant, and undoubtedly, a 
fruitful source of malaria.” 
The benefits of drainage on the health of the inhabi¬ 
tants of wet and marshy districts, have been striking. 
An English report on this subject, says in reference to 
one district, where the inhabitants were formerly expo¬ 
sed to the malaria of marshy lands ,— u for the last few 
years, owing to the excellent plan of draining , very 
few diseases have occurred that can be said to be pro¬ 
duced by malaria. There is very little ague, scarcely 
any continued fever, and a case of typhus fever has not 
been known along the borders for the last three or four 
years. Some years back, a great portion of the parish¬ 
es adjoining these marshes, was under water from the 
end of autumn to the early part of the following spring j 
then levers and agues of all characters prevailed to a 
very great extent.” Much testimony of a character 
like this, has been obtained in Britain, and leaves no 
doubt of the great benefits of drainage in regard to 
health. 
Several diseases of domestic animals, such as 11 liver- 
complaint ” in cattle, and rot” in sheep, are known 
to be connected with the same causes which produce 
the diseases in man above mentioned. The effects of ma¬ 
laria and watery succulent herbage, in producing the 
rot, have long been known. As might be expected, 
the health of sheep and cattle has been benefitted 
by drainage to an equal or greater degree than that of 
the human race. C. W. Johnson states that the rural 
population of drained districts in England, have often 
remarked the favorable effects of drainage on the health 
and improvement of animals, by which losses of stock 
have been prevented to a great extent. 
There is no insuperable obstacle to the drainage of 
those sections of this country which have heretofore 
been so subject to particular diseases. A gentleman of 
great experience in draining, states that drains will 
draw effectively, if properly made, where there is a de¬ 
scent of only four inches to the mile. There are few 
cases where a much greater fall cannot be had. How im¬ 
mense would be the benefits which would follow from 
the adoption of a thorough system of draining, in those 
sections! 
Modes of forming drains. —Drains have been made 
in various ways. In clayey soils they have been formed 
by digging a trench to the required depth, and then pla¬ 
cing a block of wood four inches square in the bottom, 
around which the soil is rammed hard—the timber be¬ 
ing then drawn along, and the same operation repeated. 
The subsequent contraction of the clay, allows the wa¬ 
ter to enter the cavity thus formed. Such drains ope¬ 
rate well for a time, but are not, probably, very lasting. 
Stones have long been used for the construction of 
drains. They are made both with and without an eye, 
or open space, and if rightly constructed, are consider¬ 
ed as efficient as any. It has been found that small 
stones are best for this purpose, and in England and 
and Scotland they are broken to about the size ordina¬ 
rily used for Mo Adam roads, or so small that they will 
pass through a ring two and a-half inches in diameter. 
