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60 ILLINOIS STATE DAIRYMEN’S ASSOCIATION. 
Seward, Marengo; J. R. McLean, Rlgin ; I. Loies, Davis 
Junction; Lutlicr Bartlett, Bartlett ; liof. h. Hall, Sugai 
Grove ; I. H. Wanzer, Oneida; Chas. Boone, Winnebago; 
John Smallwood, Freeport; L. B. Parsons, Flora ; Capt. 
W. H. Stewart, Woodstock; H. W. Mead, Hebron; N. 
Eldred, Gilman, Illinois. 
S. W. Kingsley, Chairman Com. 
Question No. 9—“ The effects of drainage on differ¬ 
ent soils, and the best system employed ”—was taken up. 
Upon this topic, R. M. Patrick read the following paper : 
R. M. PATRICK’S PAPER. 
Mr. President , and Gentlemen of the Illinois State 
Dairymen's Association: In giving my views upon the 
subject of drainage, I will state they are the result of some 
twelve years of practical experience upon a farm of 480 
acres —which has rapidly increased in productiveness, and, 
more recently, owing much to more perfect drainage. 
The lands which most need draining in this country 
arc low lands, made rich by alluvial deposits left upon them 
by the overflow of streams, or the wash from higher lands 
surrounding them, and the decayed rank growth of coarse 
vegetation. These lands, being of an alluvial chaiactcr 
mixed with rich vegetable growth, form the richest land 
known, and when thoroughly drained aie capable of pio- 
ducing the most luxuriant crops, and in this climate in a 
succession of years prove more productive and more 
valuable than much of the higher and dryer land. The 
natural growth of grass upon these low, undrained lands is 
coarse, sour and almost valueless for dairy purposes. 
Without drainage it is impossible to cultivate these lands 
successfully, or to raise the sweet cultivated grasses which 
are so necessary for producing a fine article of butter or 
cheese. So these lands—the richest known—when un¬ 
drained remain of little value. 
There is another class of lands, situated higher, which 
seem dry upon the surface, but the water line is so very 
little below the surface that the season is far advanced 
before the water gets well out of the tillable soil, and the 
crops of grain or cultivated grasses on such lands aie 
