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 THE CANADIAN 
 
 Hand Book on Draining 
 
 COMPILED FBOM THK M«)8T EMU BNT PBACTlCAL AUTHORITIES 
 IN EUBOP» AKD AMERICA, AMD PtTBLISHBD BY 
 
 CARTER Sc BTEWATIT 
 
 I 
 
 PBOPRIKtORS OS' 
 
 Garter's Ditching Maclii&d 
 
 AYLMKR p. 0., COUNTY OF ELGIN, ONTARIO. 
 
 PRICE TEM CENTS. 
 
 THE BOOK TRADK Sl'PPI.IKI) O.N LIBKRAl. iKRNtS. 
 
 ■ -^♦♦♦-- 
 
 ■ f » » f 
 
 AVLMteE, OIST. : 
 
 VR-Cfrftklt Al- iin; ivVTKRPRISE BOOR ANt) jot; UlI'lOl::, 
 
 iSyt, 
 
Tonoi^'TO 
 
 Agricultural Waraheuse 
 
 WM. RENiNiIE, - 120 AdeWe Si Easl, Twoato 
 
 Wholesale aoA Re^il I>*ii»Ier jb all kinds of 
 
 ill 
 
 Piel'' 5ae<|Pi Fruit Tvem, FerfcUizero, &c.. 
 
 arter's Patttot 
 iHtehang Mft- 
 
 Ht-am wtA Horse 
 
 ng-Maehima, 
 
 OomWatd & rfngle 
 Mowers fttiil 
 Beapers, 
 
 Wood Sawing 
 
 Macbiuefi, 
 Horse powersr, 
 Machine Jack«, 
 
 Vrtsm C'rvwljei-s, 
 
 & Boilers, 
 KootCuttera, - 
 T uwrip and Grain 
 
 Faaninjf Mil^s, 
 Glover Huliers, 
 Horse Baktis, 
 C3oMi ^eflers, 
 Hinmp Machines, 
 Patent Fan For- 
 ges, 
 
 Mowing Maehine 
 Knife (irinder 
 
 f 'i-^er Itfilis, 
 
 PloQghK, all kinds 
 
 'Eye*'»T»ttnt iron 
 Hacrow, 
 
 Field and T>awD 
 
 Rollerii, 
 Onltivatora, 
 Hune Hoc«, 
 
 Kci'.leij, 
 HofM) Forks, 
 Amaiqinin Hells, 
 ('burns, 
 Florence Sewing 
 
 Machines, 
 'I^e Philft<leV.ia 
 
 Lawp Movf'ers 
 
 Greenhouse and 
 Garden SngineK 
 
 Wheelbarrows, 
 Roadseraperx, 
 SpAdes. Forks, 
 Hoes, S<;ythe8, 
 &c , Ac., &c. 
 
 1 would call »f»et'i»l attention to (tEAy's Doublb Furkow 
 P1.0U0HS, also Gray's Champion SiN(rt,B Fireow Plouoh, whieh 
 was awarrled First Pviao at the trial of implements held at Paris, July 
 lf)th and mrth, lS7l,H:i<lerthean9pi«;e8 of the Provincial Agricultural 
 Association. 
 
 Correspondenee i,s solK'ited froji those in Beed of good farming 
 Implements of an? kind. My stock is >\ ull selected, and the largest in 
 tjiB I iomin'.on. Semi for Illustrated Catalogue, 
 
 P.O. Box 1355, TouojsTf*. 
 
 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 :o:- 
 
 We ask for tl.e foilowing brief treatise, tiie candid consideration of 
 Agriculturists, Legislators, Municipal Councils, Agricultural Societies, 
 the Public Press,and the public generally. 
 
 There is truth in the sajing '« that whoever causes two olades of 
 grass to grow where but one grew before, is a public benefactor." 
 
 The culture of the soil is the basis of wealth, and the supporter < ' 
 all other Industrie.. In view of this fact, there can be at present, no 
 matter of greater practical importance to our country than Draining 
 The productiveness of the soil is by il often doubled, and at the same 
 time the health of our people secured against these sources of disease 
 which low, damp, undrained lands always originate. 
 
 Little Holland reclaims her territory from swamps and marshes; 
 ■supports a dense population and grows rich. What is the secret,'. 
 \vhich, under these unfavorable circumstances, has made her the won-' 
 der of nations ? Proper attention to the soil,and successful Draining. 
 
 Who will say that the exports of the Dominion may not be greatly 
 increased by similar judicious management 1 
 
 Let us read, think, and act. 
 
 
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TREATIS]-: 0\ DRAINING. 
 
 "»«•■» 
 
 to cultivate the soil so as to rai^e the largest crops with the least ex- 
 pense, and witliout permament injury to the soil. 
 
 Iheoestauthorities on Agriculture say, that thorough Drainage 
 will add at lea.c'.t oue-third to the product of the soil. 
 Drainage will often save a crop. 
 
 Drainnge will (,r.able a farmer to work his land much earlier in the 
 bpring, and theieby liis crops escape risks to which late plantin- ex- 
 poses them. ' ® 
 
 Drainage will often convert useless land into tlie most productive 
 Rain sho.ild not be permitted to run off the surface of the soiLnor 
 should ,t remain i.i it to sour, but should percolate through it, and 
 then be removed, t|ius imparting to vegetation the valuable properties 
 It contains, so necessary to the sustenance of vegetable life 
 
 For this reason tlie farmer should understand something of the 
 chemistry of nature, know how to appropriate to the soil all the ferti- 
 Imng elements that the clouds and atmosphere contain, the heat the 
 oxygen,the carbonic acid and ammonia ; how to open the pore., of the 
 
 earth to receive these disintegrators and fertilizers, to enable the soil 
 to yield up Its conce-iled nutriment. 
 
 This is the function of successful drainage. It is the process of re 
 moving everything trom the soil that is deleterious to the growth of 
 plants, and appropriating everything thpt the earth and atmosphere 
 contain to furnish them with food and drink 
 
 The means te accomplish this most important object have not 
 hitherte been within the reach of the common farmer 
 
 In some countries, such as England, Holland and Belgium, where 
 
I he jiii.v (.r l;m.| is Wv^U and luljoi' <'1kmi., liiiid (Iniliingc Is one of llic 
 roniiiinii nio'los of r,irmiiicr, ^md '"'^ '^''i-'" ulleiulcil will) suipmiiif,' it - 
 stilts. 
 
 Til tliis country, wlipve l!vl)or Ims Ijeon soaroe,wa,i,'^s liis^li, land abun- 
 dant iuid rlioii]). tuid tlio soil ricli. Init, littlo attention lias IxHiii J)aid t.' 
 
 drainage. 
 
 'I'Ik! imiioitance of dniiuing hmd cannot be over pstiniuted and seems 
 now to l>o \inivei-sally acknowledged throughout our counti-y, not only 
 by agriculturists, but l>y scientific menof-all classes. 
 
 In l':ngland, <lrainagc' lias worked a revolution in fanning. Tlie 
 small crops of poor,waste,lands luivo been doubled, and in many castas 
 (|iiadrui)lcd, while thousands of acres of swamp and beg lands,that bo- 
 i\nv jMcluccd nothing, have been made highly productive and render- 
 ed tlie uiost valuable of any in the kingdom. 1 n H olland large tracks 
 of land have been i-eclaimed from the sea and niado the i-ichest in the 
 
 woriii 
 
 Draining has been defined '' the art of rendering land not only so 
 free of moisture as that no superfluous water sliall remain in it, but 
 that no water shall remain in it so long as to injure or even retard 
 the heaUhy growth of plants." 
 
 The benelicial effects of thorough draining are of a very decisive and 
 sti'iking kind. The removal of stagnaat water from a stratuvu of si>il 
 three feet in depth, and the establishment of a free passage for i-ain 
 water and heat from the siu'face of the earth to the level of the drain, 
 speedily ellectsmcst important changes in the condition of the soil ami 
 subsoil. 
 
 The lirst (■V'l"i'"y '^^i'' ''''' ^^'"^'^ ^^""^'-^ of lands reiiuire draining ! 
 The "•(•neral answer might bethatall lands require draining that con- 
 tain loo much Wiitei /or t/ie uderided crupfi. To be more s]»eciric, all 
 lands which at somo seasons of the year become tilled with water 
 which has no natural outlet but remains on or near the surface >uitd 
 it is removed by evaporation. 
 
 When a plowed lield shows on the whole or part of its surface, a 
 constant appearance of dampness, indicating that as fast as water is 
 dried out from its surface more is forced up from below, so that after 
 a vain-fall it is much longer than other lands in assunnng the color of 
 dry earth, unmistakeably needs draining. 
 
 Lands of whatever kind of soil in which the openings or spaces ]>e- 
 tween the particles are tilled with waterwhether from rain-fwlls, springs, 
 
or .smfaoe-ove) flow within kan lliuii tlufti feet of i\u' .siiiliitc ul" tlje 
 ground i.vniediately after heavy rain, require tliaiiiing. 
 
 If the watei- of heiivy rains stands for some time on tlit. surfikce, of 
 the earth, or if it collects in tlit furrow wliih^ plowing, draining is ne- 
 cessary to bring it to its full fertility. 
 
 Swamps and bogs require draining. No argunioiit is recpiired to 
 convince sane men that tho large tracts of land usually known us 
 swamps and bogs, aust in some way bo relieyed of their surplus wa- 
 ter boforc they can he rendered fit for cultivation. 
 
 All high lauds that contain too niiuh water at. any season, re(|uire 
 
 tliainagc. 
 
 There are other indications wl.iili may bo observed even in dry 
 wcather,such as vide cracks in tho soil, "iiusad by tho drying of clays 
 which by ]>roviou.s soaking have become pasted together. The curling 
 of corn often shows that in its caily growth, it has been prevented Ijy 
 a wet subsoil from .«iending down its roots, below the reach of the 
 sun's heat, where it could find, e\ on in the dryest weather, sullicient 
 moisture for a healthy growth. 
 
 All soils of ordinary richness which contain a fair amount of dav, 
 
 will v.-ithstand a severe drought without great injury to their crops, if 
 
 thoroughly drained, so as to keep tin; poras openafcthesui-face. Very sli»dit 
 
 '^' „ill be founil in determining what lands will be benefitted bv 
 
 M »>uch less than in ascertaining what lands will uof he beni" 
 
 Jung. 
 
 DRAINS ACT AND AFFECT THE SOIL. 
 
 La- . requires draining luuigs out a sign of its conditon, 
 
 more or less clear, according to its circfimstances, but alway unmis- 
 takable to the practi<;ed eye. Somjetimes it is the oroad banner of 
 standing water, or dark. Avet st. .-aks in plowed land, wlien all shouhi 
 bo dry and of evcii color ; sometimes only a fluttering rag of distress 
 in curling corn, or wide-cnickiHg clay, or feeble, spindling, shivering 
 grain, which has survived a precarious winter, on the ice stilts that 
 have stretched its crown above a wet soil ; senietimes the quaran- 
 tine flag cf rank growtli ami daidc iniasmalio fogs. 
 
 To recognize these indications is the firat ollice of the drainer ■ the 
 second, to remove the cau.ses from which they ai-ise. 
 
 Jjaud »ihich requi^s draiuing,is that which,at son\e time tlurin<f the 
 
 year,(either frouj an accumulation of the rains which fall upon it from 
 
 th(^ lai<Mal tlowjor s<>Akage,from atljoining land,irom spiings which open 
 
 within itjOr tiom a combination of two or ail of the,se sources,) becomes 
 
filled with water, tht.t does not readily tind a natural outlet, but Tff 
 mains until removoil by evaponitioii. Every considerable add;tion to 
 its water well>4 up, and soaks its very surface; and tliat which is add- 
 ed after it i.s already brim full, must flow ofl'over the surface or lie ia 
 puddles uj)ou it. Evaporation ia a slow process, and it becomes more 
 and more slow as the level of the water recedes from the surface,andis 
 sheltered by the overlying earth, from the action of sun and wind. 
 Therefore, at least, during the periods of spring and fall p)'eparation of 
 the land, during the early growth of plants, and often even in mid-, 
 summer, the water inh/e, — th c top of the water of saturation, — is 
 within a few inches of the surface, preventing the natural descent of 
 roots, and, by reasoa of tlm small space to receive fresh rains, causing 
 an interi'uptiou of work for some daya ^fter eiv h storm. 
 
 Alderman Mechi,of Tiptree Hall, says : "Fil.vation may be too sud- 
 den, as it is well enough shown by uur hot sandh and gravels ; but I 
 apprehend no one will evor fear rendering strong clay too ; porous and 
 manageable. The object of draining is to impart to such soih the mel. 
 lowness and dark color of self drained, rich and friable soil. That 
 perfect drainage and cultivavion will do this '~ a well-known fact. I 
 know it in the case of my own garden. How it doss so I am not 
 chemist enough co explain iu detail; but it is evident the effect is pro- 
 duced by the fibers of the growing crop intersecting every particle of 
 the soil, which they never could do before draining ; these with their 
 excretions, decompose on removal of the crop, and are acted on bv the 
 alternating air and water, v/hich also decompose and change, in a de- 
 gree, the inorganic substances of the soil. Thereby drained land 
 which was before, impervious to air and water, and consequently un- 
 available to air and roots, to worms, or to vegetable or animal life 
 becomes, by draiiuige,populated by both, and is a great chemical labor- 
 atoiy,as our own atmosphere is subject to all the chang 's produced by 
 animatsd nature." ^ 
 
 FOROSITY OR MELLOWNESS. 
 
 An open and mellow condition of the soil is always favorable for 
 growth of plants. They require heat, fresh air, and moisture, to ena- 
 ble them to take up the materials on which they live, a'K^l by which 
 they grow. The heat of retentive soils is almost directly proportion, 
 ate to the completeness with which their free water is removed by 
 undergr-ound draining, and that, by reason of the increased facility 
 ■with which air and water circulate within them, their heat is more 
 evenly distributed amc-.g ail thn.se parts of the soil which are occupied 
 
 
by roots. The word moialur^ in this connection in used in oontradi^. 
 tinction to loitmss ami implies a condition of freshness and dfimpness, 
 — UDtat all of Hiitunition. la a siiturated, a soaking wet soil, every 
 space bet'»^een the particles li filled with water t. the entire exclusion 
 of t''e atmosphere, and in such a soil only aquatic plants will ^row. 
 In a dri/ soil, on the other hand, when the ear^h is wntracted into 
 clods and baked almost as in an oven,— one of the most important 
 conditions for growth being wanting,— nothing can thrive, save those 
 plants which ask of the earth only an anchoring place, and seek their 
 norishment from the air. Both air plants and water plants have their 
 wisely assigned places in the eoenoray of nature, and nature provides 
 them with ample space for growth. Agricultuie h<)wever, is directed 
 to the production of u class of plants very different from either of 
 these, — to those which can only grow lo their greatest perfection in a 
 soil combining, not <■ -■ or two only, but all three of the conditions 
 named above. \ us they require heat, they cannot dispense with 
 the moisture which too gi-eat heat removes ; while thty require mois- 
 ture, they cannot abide the entire exclusion of air, nor the dissipation 
 of heat which too much water causes. The interior part of the pellets 
 of a well pulverized soil should contain all the water they can hold by 
 their own abso\ptive power, just !is the finer walls of a damp sponge 
 hold it; whil- the spaces between these pellets,liketheporesof the sponge, 
 should be filled with air. 
 
 In such a soil, roots can extend in any direction, and to considera- 
 ble depth, without being parch':»d with thirst or drowned in stagnant 
 water, and other tilings being equal, plants will grow to their greatest 
 possible size, an.J .ill their tissues will be of the best possible texture. 
 On rich land, which is maintained in this condition of porosity and 
 mellowness, agriculture will produce its best results, and will encoun- 
 ter thefewwst possible chances of failure. Of course. there are not manv 
 such soils to be found, and such absolute balance between wai-mth and 
 moisture in the soil cannot bo maintained at all times, and under all 
 circumstances, but the more nearly it is maintained, the more nearly 
 perfect will be the results of cultivation. 
 
 CHEMIC.\L ACTION IN THE SOIL. 
 
 Planta receive certain of their constituents from the soil, through 
 thfir roots. The raw materials fi-om which the^e constituents are ob- 
 tained ar% the minerals of the coil, the manures which aie artifi'.iall» 
 applied, water, and certain substances which aie taken from the air by 
 
I 
 
 the absorptive action ol'tlie fioil, oi' aie brought, to it by rains, or by 
 water llowiug over the, surface from other hmd. 
 
 The uiiueral matters, which constitute tlie a.shcs of plants, when 
 burned, are not more accidental impuiities whicli happen to be canieil 
 into their roots in solution in tho water wliich supplies the sap, al- 
 thougli they vary in character and proportion with (jacli char.ge in the 
 mineral com[»osition of tlie soil. It is proven by cliemical analysis, 
 that tha composition of tlie ashes, not only of diflerent species of plants 
 but of dift'ereno jiarts of the same plant, have distinctive characters, • 
 some being lich in ])hosphates, and others insilex ; some in potash, and 
 others in lime, and that these cliararters arc in a measure tlie same, 
 in the same plants or parts of [ilants, without especial reference to the 
 soil on which tliciy grow. The minerals whiclifotm the ashes of plarits, 
 constitute but a vtny small part of the soil, and they are veryspavsely 
 distributed thro'.ighout the mass ; existing in the inlcrioi' of its parti- 
 cles, as well as upon their surfaces. As roots cannot penetrate to the 
 interior of [lobbies and compact particles of earth, in search of thefood 
 which they require, but can only take that which is e>' osed on their 
 surfaces, and, as the oxydizing efl'ect of atmospheric air is uscf\d in 
 ]»re2>aring the crude minerals for assimilation, as well as iu decompos- 
 ing the particles in which they arc bound u[),- a process v/hich is jil- 
 lied to thor U!^'tl)f'j of metals, -the more fveely atmospheric air is allow- 
 ed, or induced, to circulate among the inner portions of tlit; .soil, the 
 more readily aio its fertilizing pai-ts made available for the use of 
 loots. l>y no other pi-ocess is air made to outer so <lceply, nor to cir- 
 culate so I'eaciily in the soil, as by under-draining, and the deep culti- 
 vation which vmder-draining facilitates. 
 
 Of the manures which are applied lo tiie lauil. those of a uiiueral 
 character are aii'ected by draining. in the same mil nnei'usthe minerals whicli 
 are natire to the .soil ; while oiganic.or aiiinial and vegetal ile, manures 
 (especially when ap[)lied, as is usaai, in an incompletely feniuMited 
 condition,) absolutely require fresh suin>lics of atii;os()lieric air, to con 
 tinue the deconqiositiott v. 'lich alone can preptire them for thcii ]>io 
 per efTecb on vegt.'tatitm. 
 
 It kepi satuialcd with water, so that liie air is excluded, aiiiuial 
 Uiaiiures lie neaily inert, and vegetable matttus decompose but iucoiu 
 plelely, — yielding acids which are iiijuiious to vrgetation, ami which 
 would not be formed iu the presence of i ,iiitUcient siqipl}' oi aii. An 
 instance is cited by Jl. Wa\:er where sheep dung was preserved, I'of 
 live yijars, by excessive moisture, which ki'pt it. IVoiri the air. If I lie 
 
I 
 
 soil he fiiiLur.Ued willi wiitor in (lie spriii-, mul, in siiimncf (\>y thr 
 (•ompacting of its .siirtUi'c, which is ciuised hy cvaiyriitioii,) he dosed 
 ngainst the entrance of :iir, manuros will ho hut slowly doooniposed, 
 and will act but imperfectly in tlm crop, -if, on the other hand, a 
 complete system of drainage he adopted, manures, (and the '-oots 
 which have been left in the g;ound by the previous crop,) will he 
 readily decomposed, and will excercise their full inJluence on the soil, 
 and on the plants growing in it. 
 
 Again, manures are more or less cftective, in proportion as they aie 
 more or loss thoroughly mixed with the soil. In anundrained,retentive 
 soil, it is not often ].ossihin to attain that perfect flit//, which is best 
 suited f(.i-:, |.ro])or M.lmixttM'o.a.Kl which is easily given aftei- thorousih 
 <lrniiiiug. 
 
 The soil nmst he I'cgarded as the lahoratoty iu which nature, du.ing 
 the season of giowth, is carrying on these hidden, l,ut mdispensible 
 chemiciil soparation«, combinatiom-, and re-combinations, by which the 
 earth is made to boar its fruits, and to sustain its myriad life. The 
 chief demand of this laboratory is for free ventilation. The raw luy . 
 terial for the work is at hand,— as well in the wet soil as in the dry ; 
 hut the <locr is sealed, the damper is closed, and only a stray whiff of 
 air can, no^^ and then, gain entrance, —only enough to commence an 
 analysis, or a combination, which is choked otF when half cemplcte, 
 leaving food for sorrel, but making iiono for grass. We nuist throw 
 open door and window, drnw away the water in which all is immersed, 
 let in the air, with its all destroying, and therefore, all ro-creatiM 
 oxygen, and leave the forces of nature's beneficent chemistry fvfe 
 play, deep dowii in the ground. Then nniy we liopo for the fuN bono- 
 ilt of the fortilixing matters which our good soil contains, and for the 
 fidl olloct of tlio riumures which Ave add. 
 
 With our land thoroughly improved, as Jias been described, weniav 
 carry on the operations of farming with as much certainty of success 
 and with as groat mun.uiity from the ill eiTects of unfavorable weathe.-' 
 ascanbeexpected.uanyhusiness, whose results depend on such -[ 
 variety of cnrumstances. We shall have substituted certainty for 
 chance, as far as it is in o.u' power to ,lo so, and shall have made 
 farming an art, raDior than a venture. 
 
 now Al!)] L.Wns IJRNEFTTEl) BY DRAINING 1 
 
 It will ho found impo.-ihl- in iho ^pace allowal.le here, more than 
 briefly togive a synopsis of the answer to thi., most important question 
 
8 
 
 The first growlli of tlie embryo plant in the soil, rcfjuircs certain 
 conditions such as the requisite degree of heat, the presence of atnios 
 pheric air, moisture? and the exclusion of light. Wherever a seed is 
 placed in these circumstances, gt ;mination will take placf. Soil does 
 not of itself act chemically in the process of germination. It in the 
 vehicle by mean.s of which air, moi.sture and heat can be continually 
 kept uj). 
 
 It absorbs water from the atmosphere to supply the demands of 
 plants. 
 
 It absorb 5 heat from the sun's rays to assist in the process of growth- 
 It admits air to circulate among roots and supply them with a 
 part of thsir food. 
 
 The secret we want to learn is how to obtain and keep wp this sup- 
 ply in a manner most favorable to the chemical changes which in pro- 
 cess of germination, take place in the living r;eed. 
 
 The heat will be proportioned to the completeness by Avhich the 
 water is removed, and by reason of the increased facility by which 
 air and water circulate, heat will be distributed more evenly 
 among all those parts of the soil occupied by roots. 
 
 The conditions of soil necessary for the germination of seed, apply 
 to the whole period of the growth of the plant, that is,it needs an un- 
 interrupted circulation of heat, moisture and air. 
 
 Under-draining eliects the mechanical changes in the soil, by reason 
 of which moisture, heat and air can circulate freely through it. This 
 is true of the hardest, most obstinate and retentive of clayey soils. 
 
 It decomposes the mineral matters contained in them, disintegrates 
 the particles a.iJ renders them porous. A familiar example will illus- 
 trate this. 
 
 If we fill a vessel or box having holes at the bottom, with any of 
 the most tenacious soils, to the depth of three or four feet, and pour 
 on watet, it will soon soak down through the box and escape at the 
 bottom. "By a renewel of this process a short time, it will be found 
 that the water \aU puss fieely through the soil, that it will be rendc 
 ed porou.<^ and mellow, and as long as the outlet for the water Is kept 
 open there will be no danger of over drenching the soil in the box. 
 It will receive all the rain-water that falls upon it with all its treas- 
 Hres of fertility, and bo benefitel by it. 
 
 The " Country Gentleman," of Nov. 18, 1858, contains an intciest- 
 ing statement by John ti. Pbttibone, Esq., of Mancheriter, Vt., in re- 
 ply to an opinioa espresaed by Mr. JohriSton, the celebrated land 
 
drainer, that some soils, sucli as stiff blue clay, could not l.e drained. 
 Below IS the substance of the statement • 
 
 Mr. P. took "a specimen of what he thought was stiff blue clay 
 cucli as would hold water about as well as iron." The specimen was 
 taken '/.bout three feet below the surface, on a level with a brook that 
 run through a clay soil. He filled a hundred pound nail box with 
 this clay, and pierced tho bocto.n of the box with holes. He poured 
 water in; At first it dissapeared slowly ; he put m water frequently 
 and the oftener he filled it the more readily it passed off He left 
 It more than a week, when a .shower came, after tlie shower not a 
 drop of water was to be seen. • 
 
 The soil in the box represents Die condition of a well drained field, 
 having free outlet for the water down three or four feet belcw the sur- 
 face of the ground. On this field the rain falls, the dew is deposited 
 and finds ready passage througli the soil, rendering it porous and mel- 
 
 lOAV. 
 
 Rain water is the rightfi-.l property of the soil on which it falls. 
 Ram is not only the chief source of moisture,but also the chief source 
 of fertility. It furnishes the necessary moisture to dissolve the elereents 
 of fertility in the soi],and contains initself,or brings with it from the 
 atmosphere the most fertilizing substances. 
 
 In a learned article by Mr. Can-d, in the Hydopedia of Agriculture, 
 an the rotation of crops he says : 
 
 "The surprising effects of a fallo.y,eveii wken unaided by any man- 
 ure,has received some explanation by the recent discovery of Mr. Bar- 
 ral, that rain water contains within it.self and conveys into the 
 soil, fertilizing substances of the utmost importance, equivalent 
 in a fall of rain of 2 1- inche.s per annum, to the quantity o. 
 ammonia contained in 200 cwt. of Peruvian Guano, with 150 lbs. of 
 nitrogenous matter besidea, all suited to the nutrition of plants. 
 
 It is calculated that the average fall of rain in the United States is 
 42 inches. 
 
 If this supplies as much ammonia to the soil as three cut. of Peru- 
 vian guano to the acre, -vhich is considered a liberal manurin'-, and 
 which is valued principally for its ammonia, tho importance of retain- 
 ing tho rain water long enough upon the soil to i-ob it of its treas- 
 ures, may be seen. 
 
 ^ "Rain water contains in solution, air, carbonic acid and ammonia. 
 The first two ingredients aro among the most powerful disintegrators of 
 of a soil. Tlie oxygen of the air and tho carbonic acid being both in a 
 
10 
 
 higi-ilycoivbasoJ form, by l)3ing dissolved,po3333S very powerful affin- 
 ities for th« iugi-odieuts of t!i3 soil. The oxygen attacks and oxydizes 
 the iron, the carbonic acid, seizing trie lime, pooasli and oLlier alkaline 
 ingredients of the soil, produces a turthor disintegration, and renders 
 available the locked up ingredients of this magazine of nutriment. 
 Before these can be used by plants, they must be rendered soluble, and 
 this is only effectnd by the free and renewed access of rain and air. 
 Tiie ready passage of both these, therefore, enables the soil to give up 
 its hidden tivasurt-s." 
 
 Plants requiri" for their life a constant supply of air. 
 " All i)lant3," .say.s Liebig, "die in soils and water destitute of oxy. 
 gen. Absence of air acts exactly in the same manner as an excess of 
 carbonic acid. Stagnant water on a marshy soil excludes the air, but 
 a renewal of water Ims the same efi'ect as a renewal of air, because 
 water contains it in solution. When the water is withdrawn from a 
 marsh, free access is given to the aii-, and the marsh is converged into 
 a fruitful meadow." 
 
 Animal and vegetable matter do not decay or decompose so as to 
 furnish food for plants, unless freely supplied with oxygen, which they 
 must obtain from the air. 
 
 CiiJer-d mining wanas or raises the temperature of the soil by the 
 admission of heated air from the surface of the earth and h;/ dimin- 
 ishing evaporation. 
 
 Not a drop of water can run through the soil into a drain, without 
 itT plcice being supplied by air—" Nature abhors a vacuum." The 
 little spaces in the soil from which tV>e water passes must be filled with 
 air, and this air can only be supplied from the surface, Avhere it has 
 absorbed lioat from the rays of the sun, as well as from the heated 
 earth. 
 
 Under-drainaje prevents evaporation. Evaporation is the prccesa 
 which water undergoes in being converted from a liquid into a vapor- 
 ous form through the influence of heat. The amount of heat required 
 for this purpose is immense. This heat is withdrawn from the earth 
 and surrounding air, which leaves thenj so much the colder, and whnn 
 a considerable tpiantity of water is accumulated in a hollow or basin,£:o 
 great an amount of heat is withdrawn from the air and earth, that tho 
 latter is left cold as it is called. Seed will not germinate from the 
 lack of heat aiul air and a naked patch will be left to deface the farm. 
 In a well drained soil thei-o will be no su;h thing as evaporation, for 
 there will be no accumulation of water upon or in the soil. 
 
11 
 
 Under-drainarj<i prevents lands from being too iv^.i or too dry to pro- 
 duce good crops. Tliis at first may seem pararloxical, but it meets 
 either alternative 
 
 First. It prevents soil from becoming/ too wet, bv preventing the 
 i'ccumulatiGu of col i, stagnant water upon or in it, and furrishes a 
 medium, v/)ieroby air, moisture and beat can be freely and evenly dis- 
 trib'ited througii it. 
 
 Second. It prevents soil f-om becoming too dry to produce good 
 crops. 
 
 L-'inds which s\ifrer most from drought are most benefited by 
 draining. T!;e reasons are obvious. There is always the same amount 
 of water in anil about tlie surface of the earth. In the winter there is 
 more than in the summei-, while in the summer that which has been 
 dried out of the soil e.xists in the form of vapor. When vapor comes 
 1I-. contact with substances cooler than itself, it gives up its heat, con- 
 tracts and becomes licpiid water and is deposited oti the surface of the 
 earth as dew. Dew is a most valuable source of moisture as well as 
 fertility. 
 
 In England the annual deposit of dew is reckoned equal to a depth 
 of five inches of water. Water thus deposited on the soil is absorbed 
 more or less completely in jtroportion to its porosity. 
 
 As drained soil is rendered porous by the conr,tant admission of air, 
 it receives by absorption a large amount of d.nv in a liquid form. In 
 addition to this a porous soil will receive and hold within its pores all 
 the rain water that falls on it until its pores are filled. When this is 
 the ease the water by foi'ce of gravity, sinks down and passes out at 
 tho drain and givf-'s plac.-e to that which is above. But the ]iower of 
 capillary attraction, by reason of the porosity of the soil, so far over- 
 eomestho foice of gravity ns always to keep the pores filled with mois- 
 ture, 'j'his may be from rain or O.evr deposited by the air, o? it may 
 be draxNu from the earth itself by the same power of capillary attrac- 
 tion. 
 
 Actr,al experiments have proven that dry earth will contain within 
 itself about half its bulk of water ; a cubic foot will contain about 3vV 
 gallons, and a Rtiatum of foil .?G inches deep will contain about 18 
 cubic inches of water. 
 
 Drained ;;oil contains so much water in its pores as to efi'ectually 
 prevent drought. 
 
 Atalegislativoagriculturalmeetin3heldinAlbany,N.Y.,Jan.25,lS55, 
 tho great drought of 1 854 being the subject before the mceting.tho secre- 
 
12 
 
 tary stated that " The experience of the past season has proved that 
 thorough drainage upon Boils requiring it has proved a great relief to 
 the farmers; that the crop.s upon such lands have been far better gene- 
 rally than those upon undrained land in the same locality, and that in 
 many instances Iht increased crop has been svfficient to defray the ex- 
 penses of the im2)rovement in a single year." Mr. Joseph Harris at 
 the same meeting said: -'A drained soil will be found damper 
 than an undrained one, and the thermometer shows a drained soil 
 warmer in cold weather and cooler in hot weather than one which is 
 undrained." 
 
 'I'he Secretary of the New Yor-k State Agricultural Society, in his 
 report for 18ac, says : " the te.stimony of farmers in different'seotions 
 of the State is almost unanimous that drained lands have sufferad flu- 
 less from drought, than undrainetl." 
 
 Thegenoraltestimony of alliithab di-ained lands have jiroduced 
 better crops either in wet oi- dvy seasons than undrained. 
 
 B. F. Nourse,of Ormington, Maine, states tliat on Ins drained land 
 in that State, during tlie drought of 1854, there was at all times suffi- 
 cient dampness, appaient on the scraping of the surface of tlie ground 
 with lus foot iu passing, and a crop of beans was planted, grown and 
 gathered therefrom without as much rain as will usually fall in 
 fifteen minutes' duration; while vegetation in the next field was parched 
 from lack of moisture. 
 
 A committee of the Farmers' Club, of New York, which visited tho 
 farm of Professor Mapes, of New Jersey, in 185j, reported that the 
 Professor's fences wore tho boundaries of tho drought, all lands outside 
 being affected by it, while his remained fi-ee from injury. This was 
 attributed to thorough drainage. 
 
 Mr. John Williams, of Southwold, Out., has [contributed to the 
 London Free Press his experience in under-draining. 
 
 After describing the character of the soil— a stiff clay, impervious 
 to water— and detailing his grave difHculties in managing it, he goes 
 on to say : 
 
 "There was but one remedy; but thardc fortune one remedy was 
 sufflcient, and that was to get rid of surplus water, which seemed to be 
 the cause ct so many evils. I commenced under-draining; laid upwards 
 of three quarters of a mile of tile tho first season at a venture. They 
 AvereprinciP''^ilytwo and a half inch tilo,but wealsolaidafewof the tWg 
 inch and a few four inch. The result, as witnessed ab the harvesting 
 and thi'eshing of the first crop on tho under-drained ground, so far ex. 
 ceeded my most sanguine expectations that I have since continued the 
 
13 
 
 
 drains in other fields, and do intend to stop until the whole farm is 
 dealt with in a similar manner. The largest drain at present in oper- 
 ation on my farm consists of two six inch tiles, placed aide by side 
 with a four inch above them. I expect, as soon as possible, to 
 put in a drain with three rows of six inch tiles, which will be the out- 
 let of all the others. The following are examples of the result of my 
 'ixjierience in under-draining in regard to yield of grain: The ordinary 
 yield of wheat on my farm was formerly from fifteen to seventeen 
 bushels per acre, so that on a field of sixteen acres I might expect two 
 hundred and fifty bushels of wheat. The first year after I commenced 
 draining 1 harvested from sixteen acre-^, four bundled bushels of 
 wheat, being an incieaso of one hundred and fifty bushels on former 
 crops. The value of this amount of grain more than exceeded the 
 total cost of draining the field, and as wo have reason to expect better 
 crops from the same field in future than it formerly yielded the profit 
 resulting from draining this field must bo immense. It is a well known 
 fact that many fields have suffered to great extentfrom the quantity 
 of rain that has fallen during the present season. My peas were sown 
 this year on a field which was all under-drained a fow|months ago, with 
 the exception of one braall corner, containing about halt an acre. The 
 peas on this half an acre are now almost totally' spoiled with wet, and 
 the few that remain are of a pal-, yellow, sickly color, and will hardly 
 return as much as the seed sown in ,lie spring, while those on th© 
 drained land are exceedingly thrifty and well loaded, not a sickly vine 
 appearing on ten acres. Now, with regard to durability of under- 
 drains, all I shall say is that there is no fear of them wearin^^ out in 
 man's lifetime, but they seem to get better year after year ; and the 
 satisfaction, obtained fioiu walking ou dry ground, instead of wadinw 
 through water and mud each spring, and fall, is certainly very great. 
 I am certain that any person who is willing to risk ten dollars in 
 under-draiuing some wet piece of ground will ba well pleased with the 
 result, and will spedily make hivs application at the tile yard for a 
 new supply of draining material." 
 
 UNDER-DRAINING DEEPENS THE SOIL. 
 Every former knows that a deep soil is better than a shallow one, 
 because it furnishes a more extensive feeding ground for the roots of 
 plants. By striking down deeply, the roots hold the plants firmly in 
 the ground so that it cannot be drawn out by the winds or thrown 
 out by the frost in the winter and spring, during Avhich it is so liable 
 to be killed. By the admission of air, and the decay of roots, it ren- 
 
 
 II 
 
u 
 
 ders tha condition of the subsoil such that it may bo brought up and 
 inixcd with tho surface soil witl-.out injuiing its quality. 
 
 Under-draining hastens tlie decomposition of roots and other organic 
 matters in the soil, by admitting increased quantities of air to supply 
 oxygon, which i.s as essential in decay as it is in combustion. 
 
 It also accelerates the disintegration of mineral matters in tho soil 
 by admitting water and oxygen to keep up tlie prnoc:-,s. 
 
 Disintegration is nece.s.sary to fertilitv because the roots of i)lants 
 can feed on matters only dissolved f.-oin surfaces, and the more finely 
 we pulverize the soil, the more surface we expose. 
 
 Under draining causes a more even distribution of nutritious mat- 
 ters among those parts of the soil traversed by roots, becau.se it increa- 
 ses the facility with whicli wat«r circulates through it, descending by 
 its own weight, moving sideways te iind its level, or carried upward 
 by capillary attraction to supply tho evaporation at the surface. By 
 this continued action of water, the soluble matters of one part of the 
 soil may be carried to some destitute put and even distribution con- 
 stantly maintained. 
 
 Under-draining prevents land from becoming hard, batdng, or crack- 
 ing. This is accomplished by the constant admission of air, which 
 contains oxygen; thus keeping up decomposition and disintegration, 
 and by moisture and heat. 
 
 The advantages of under-draining may be summed up as follows : 
 
 It improves tiio mechanical texture of the soil for the germination 
 of the seed and g.owtli of the plant. 
 
 Ifc hastens tho decomposition of roots and other organic matter. 
 
 It accelerates the disintegration of tho mineral matters in the soil. 
 
 It furnishes an increassd supply of atmospheric fertilizers. 
 
 It entirely prevents drought. 
 
 It deepens the soil by removing an excess of water and infusing it 
 with the fertilizing substances of the atmosphere. 
 
 It wurms the lower portions of the soil. 
 
 It ca.ise.-:! a moro even di-.tributiou of nutrition., substances among 
 tho.so parts of the soil occupied Uy thfj roots. 
 
 It renders scil earlier in the .spring, thereby lengthening the season 
 two or three weeks and guaranteein<i the mauuitv of the crop. 
 
 It effectually prevents the throu ing out of the roots of grain and 
 other plants in the winter. 
 
 It enables the farmer to woi Ic his land sooner a'ftei rains. 
 
 It piovcnts the evaporation of water in great measure and the con- 
 soqueut aosciaction of heat from tho f;oil. 
 
 

 16 
 
 It enables tlie eai-th to drink up all tho rain that alia, and all the 
 de^ deposited by the air, to receive all their fertilizing gasos and ap- 
 propriate them to the uses of plants. 
 
 It prevents the soil from baking or cracking and render, it oasr to 
 work. ^ 
 
 It saves 50 per cent, of the manure required by undrained land. 
 WILL DKiUNING PAY? 
 
 In Eiigland, where ^he science of draining is best understood and 
 us utility the most thoroughly demonstrated, many farmers give it ps 
 thur experience that under-drains pay for themselves every three years 
 or that they produce a perpetual profit of 33]- per cent ou their origin- 
 al cost. This is tho opinion of practical men (not theorists) who know 
 from experience thr.t under-drains are beneficial. 
 
 Perhaps the most satisfiictory evidence of the utility of under-drain- 
 mg is the position which the English government has taken in regard 
 to It and wliich affords much protection to tho agricultural interests of 
 her people. 
 
 A very Kn-ge sum ha, been appropriated from tho public treasury, 
 " as a lund for loans," on under-drains, ^vhich is lent to farmers 
 for the purpose of under-draining their estates, the only security 
 given being the enhanced value of the soil. The interest on theso 
 loans IS five per cent., and the time allowed for payment i. twenty 
 years. By reason of such governmental aid.tho wealth of the kingdom 
 has been rapidly increased, while tho farmers themselves have rtised 
 their farms to a higher state of fertility without immediate investment- 
 Private cai)italists in England are following thee.xample of the govern- 
 me,it and are fast employing their money in the same manner and 
 under-drains are considered a very safe basis for. loans. 
 
 And here we would suggest to Agricultural Societies, County and 
 Township Councils, or some of our nionied institutions throughout Can- 
 ada, whet!ier m so doing they would not bo engaged in a lo-.itimate 
 and laudable work by er,tablishi;ig f«mls from which to supply parties 
 who have not the means to spare, who contemplated draining their 
 lands, with money at a reasonable rate of interest for that purpose 
 the work to be performed under some systematic regulation) approved 
 by a pract.cal engineer, taking a lieu upon the land to bo improved for 
 the repayment of the principal an.i interest extended over a term of 
 years. 
 
 The agricultural statistics of England show that iu wheat alona th» 
 
14 
 
 average yield of former undiaiuc'd lands wos only twelve bushels per 
 
 acres, while the present yield of drained lands is twenty-six bushels per 
 
 acre, to say nothing of their line meadows which yield annually fror- 
 
 two to four crops of hay. 
 
 Some years ago, Llie Rural New Yorker published a letter from one 
 
 ot its correspondents from Avliich the following is extracted : 
 
 " I recollect calling uj)on a gentleman in the harvest f.cld, when some- 
 thing like the follo\Hing conversation occurred : 
 
 * Your wheat, sir, looks very fine ; how many acres have you in this 
 field V 
 
 ' In the neighborliood of eight, I judge.' 
 
 ' Did you sow upon fallow?' 
 
 ' Na sir. We turned over green sward — sowed immediately upon the 
 sod, and dragged it thoroughly — and you see the yield will probably be 25 
 bushels to the acre, where it is not too wet.' 
 
 ' Yes sir, it is mostly ver> fine. I observed a thin strip through it, but 
 did not notice that it was wet.' 
 
 * Well, it is not very wet. Sometimes after a rain, the water runs across 
 it, and in spring and fall it is just wet enough to heave the wheat and 
 kill it.' 
 
 I inquired whether a couple of good drains across the lot would not ren- 
 der it dry. 
 
 ' Perhaps so — but there is not over an acre that is killed out.' 
 
 * Have you made an estimate of the loss you annually sustain from this 
 wet place?' 
 
 ' No, I had not thought much about it. ' 
 
 ' Would ^0 be too high V 
 
 ' O yes, double. ' 
 
 ' Well let's see ; It cost you 83 to turn over the sward ? Two bushels of 
 seed, ^2 ; harrowing in 75 cents ; interest, taxes, and fences, 35.25; 25 
 bu^Jiels of wheat lost, $25. 
 
 ' Deduct for harvesting ' 
 
 ' No, the straw would pay for that.' 
 
 ' Very well, all footed, §30. 
 
 ' What will ihe wheat and straw on this acre be worth this yea r?' 
 
 ' Nothing, as I shall not cut the ground over. 
 
 ' Then it appears that you have lost in what you liave actually expended 
 and the wheat yow would have harvested, had the ground been dry, 836,a 
 pretty large sum for one acre. ' 
 
 ■ Yes, I see,' said the farmer." 
 
 DRAINAGE IN THE UNITED STATES. 
 
 The results of under-draining in the United States, so far as it has 
 been intr*duced, far surpass those in Great Britain. 
 
 The most extensive agricultural draiuage operations, are on the farm 
 of Mr. John Johnston, near Geneva, N. Y. By steadily pursuing the 
 practice more than thirty years, Mr. Johnston has laid a quarter 
 o i a million of tiles, or more than fifty miles. 
 
 An instance of their beneficial effect wa.s observed a few years sinco 
 
17 
 
 wherp.bj tho desti-uctive action of the midge, the crop .-f wheat on 
 six adjoining furms wa<» reduced to seven bushels per acre, Mr. John- 
 son obtain ing twenty-nine bushels. 
 
 Mr. J. says tilo diaining pays for itself in t,vo years, somecimes in 
 one. In 1 847, lie bought a piece of ten acres lo gob an outlet for hia 
 drains. It was a perfect quagmire covered with coarse aquatic grasses 
 and HO unproductive that it would not return the seed sown on it. In 
 1848, a crop of corn was taken from it of eighty bushels per acre. 
 Tho corn a', rhat time on account of the Irish famine was worth .?! 
 per bushel, wliich not only paid all the expen-se of d.-ainapie, bwt the 
 cost of tho land as well. 
 
 Another piece of twenty acres adjoining tho farm of the late John 
 Delafiold, Fsq., was wet and would not produce more thar. ten bushels 
 of corn to the acre. The first crop after draining was 83 bushels and 
 some odd pounds per acre. It was totighed arid measured by Mr. De- 
 lafield, and the County Society awarded a premium to Mr. Johnson. 
 
 A part of land enibjacing eight acres and some rods, on one side, 
 averaged 94 bushels, an increase of 84 bushels per acie more than it 
 would produce before those little clay tiks were laid in the ground. 
 Although Mr. Johnson's farm has been mainly devoted to the raising 
 of grain, yet a considerable area of meadow and some pasture has been 
 ret lined. The yield of wheat on his hrm averages from 30 to 4i 
 bushels per acre, while his neighbors yield but 8, 10 and 15 bushels. 
 
 Mr. Johnson was a hard wo i-king Scotch farmer; he came to this 
 country and commenced a poor man borrowed his money to drain his 
 land ; gradually extenled his operations till he became wealthy and 
 the possessor of a farm marvelous for its productions and the wonder 
 and admiration of his neighbors. His statements are the results of 
 his large experience, and are entitled to entire confidence. 
 
 But this increase of crop b. not the only profit of drainage, for Mr. 
 Johnson says that on drained lands one-half the usual quantity of 
 manure suffices to give maximum crops. The reason is obvious: ' 
 
 Where the soil is filled with water, air cannot enter to anv extent 
 hence oxygen cannot eat ofl the surfaces of the particles of soil, and 
 prepare food for plants. They are left to depend entirely on the man- 
 ure for sustenance. The more this is the case, the more manure must 
 be applied to get good crops. 
 
 Mr. Johnson says he never made any money until ho drained his 
 lands, and so convinced is he of the ben9fit3 accruing u . a the practioa 
 ttat he woxild not hesitate, as he did not wh«n th« result was muoh 
 
more uucerlfvln lliau ut picsent, to Morro-r mouey to Uruiu. 
 
 Profer,sor Mapo'n farm r.-ear N. J., maaintains itn wonderful fertil- 
 ity year afler yw^r unimpaired, irrespective of wot or dry woathe^ 
 
 Under-draining is said to liave absolutely renewed it indifferent to 
 
 tlie severest droughts. -n ^ ^- 
 
 Tko fo'lowing s^.atement from u Ne^v York paper, .s an lUuatmtivo 
 .-..raple of %vl>at may be accomplished by draining ; (The s.^mo was 
 
 .•opied into Wiirring's work on draining.) i-„;i„j 
 
 ^'So.ae year. a,o%ho son of an EngUsh fanner canu> to the ^^^^^^^^^^^ 
 States and hir^d himBclf as a farm laborer m ^.^^.^ ^'^^^^^^f^^ ^^.^'J, 
 Ir.wirx' con- ri<ui^: Commencing work .m the first of Sor-embcr, he was 
 o'^rk u"» hours a day for three years, and receive tn P^f'"^;*.^^,^"^^^^^, 
 aT>co for a lield containing twelve acres.seeunng lu"|«e If b> ^^^; « ^-^^'"^^^^^ 
 under which hi. employer w.-^ put under bonds "^ ^f .^ *^, Jjf ' .^'^.^^J; 
 „t the contract; a!«u, during those throo years ho ^j J.^^ .^f 1^,X^^^ 
 .,f the iii'd to work ;t at h.s own cxnev.so and to /ive his employtT one 
 a Itlio nroce Jk The held lay under the south side of a hiU.waH of dark 
 e-ivv chv reVtin- on a bluish colored clay subsoil, and for many yeai^ 
 previous had nlVb^^ known to yield anything but a yellowish stinted ve- 
 
 '■'"'nie'^f.rnH-r thought the yomr/ man a simpleton and that ho himself 
 
 ',/nmsrwise and fortunate; but the former,nothing daunted by this 
 
 Tn i^ Twc he waVnot unconscious the latter entortavnecl o nm uu- 
 
 iSely l!5red a set of laborers and set them to work m the hold trench- 
 
 "ttSj^s^s:^^^^^ ^il:=:^^^^ 
 
 T ■ „. 1 ti ni?i"hirnulveriz-d with a heavy harrow, and then sowed 
 
 ? wui oats md elov r^ ^rhc yield was excellent ; nothing to be compared 
 
 ,TtliVe?e been «een in that Next year it gave two crops ot 
 
 toithalevei D..n«c ^ j,eavy and luxuriant, and the 
 
 '■°^'f ? ;l n . t ^S "manu S of V an acre,nine acres of the 
 
 S^tS;r^3a"uS^f corn and twenty-fivewa^^^ 
 in ^ while from the remaning three acres were taken 1,0U1J ousiieis oi 
 
 *au^V «S^:SS{o reLquishkis title to it, and wlien this wa« 
 unSllulngly refuse'd'he offered hi.n 82,000 which was accepted. 
 
 The young man's account stood thus : ^^_ ^^ 
 
 Half proceeds of oats and fitraw first year * 25'. OO 
 
 " value of sheep pasui ^ ^^ ^^ 112.00 
 
 << of first crop of clove -.og qq 
 
 « of second crop incuding seed second year ^.^^^ 
 
 " of sheep pasturage " VWir^i' Vo'n^v 690 00 
 
 u of crops of corn, pumpkins and potatoes third 3 car ^^^ 
 
 Received from farmer tor reUnquishment of title '^,'^- 
 
 -1 119 00 
 
10 
 
 To ouder-draining, labor and tiles ^ToioO 
 
 Labor and manuro thi'ee seaflons.^^ . . . ... ••.•,• 576.0O 
 
 Lal'or given to farmer, gltt per month. 30 montns. t,376.0O 
 
 filJGGOO 
 
 Balance in 1 is favor 
 
 EVERY FARMER THAT HAS WET LANDS SHOULD 
 
 BEGIN TO DRAIN. 
 
 ■Vftur citing .0 uMuy .utl.o,itk-s to show the advuntuge of umlcr^ 
 a..al;;rng,wo;ausowiti a .notation u-.u an addvess dohvered b^ 
 Em^-rson, at Couccrd, Mass., ou the subject : 
 
 .. Concord i.s one of the oldest towns in the coumry, far on now n 
 „. tlu"d Cnturv The select men have once in five y.urs perambu 
 
 „!» The, « «o „:.„y young Amenca, nuonncng a hater 
 
 era ami a Jay of fat things. 
 
 , , ■ ,.v ^..'haaeraent stoiy" under every mans farm, 
 
 ■ ;:;> a ,,, Mule or fool- feet, war,ni„g,,.obteni„g, «■- ■^''.-^ 
 
 tic grasses, highly proJucUve. 
 
 rie m..v ..ot have the raeaus. la,t the quesliou of .nea.,» should 
 ,„"r °«.' , a farmer from draining at least a portion of h.» wetter 
 
 : „;" harrow .oney hy mo.tgaging his farm bat ,. the value f 
 '1 ..ru. >s to he doubled or trebled by the annual mereasoofh.s e,o,,, 
 tr,^ not hesitate if means cannot be obtained m any other way. 
 
 T : e "erienee of hand. Js of farners inthis ceu,.try„md thousand, 
 in! t '^euntnes ha. demonstrated that the yearly bencht of dram-ng 
 :,.t too moist land is beyond all proportion to the rate of .nte.e t 
 ::Z 1, and the advantages resulting 'ro„ it - » -— - 
 ..nportant that he had better accept tlv. annoyance of a mo.tgage e.en 
 ban not reap the benefit. Thf morvfe-uge n.^^.- t>- -- . -■ 
 
20 
 
 true, but it (vould sink into insigaificanc© when compared -with the 
 risk, that every farmer runs of seeing the frnits of a whole year's hard 
 work, snatclied from uis hands by a bad season. 
 
 Under-draining of v et or moiat lands removes most of the perils to 
 which crDpa are annually subjoct, and generally insures an abundant 
 crop. The failnro of crops when the cultivation of the soil is reasona- 
 bly good is caussd by inherent poverty of the soil or by too great 
 moisture daring the period of early growth. The cause of the disas- 
 ter in each case may be easily known. 
 
 Manures will remedy the evil in the former case.but in the latter, 
 there is no eflectual remedy .short of such a system of (drainage ns wil^ 
 thoroughly relieve the soil of its surplus ^\'ater. 
 
 DIFFERENT MODES OF DRAINING. 
 
 Tile, s:,one, brush and wood in different ways 'have been used — 
 under certain conditions either may be useful — but unque.stionably 
 tile is the best of all and no other ought to hs used where tiles can be 
 obtained. A well bui'iied tila is indestructible by an action to which it 
 is subjectible in the soil,and will withstand the slow trickling of pure 
 vvater through it as long as water continues to run. There is much 
 more danger that tho. action of the elements will wash aray the sur- 
 face of a farm vban the water flowing througli good tile drains will 
 wear them out. The only chance of danger lies in imperfect construc- 
 tion. 
 
 W!th such a knowledge of the siihject as any farmer can acquire, 
 
 and a judicious outlay of money ,it is eas}" to drain lands in such a way 
 tliut no further care is required than to see that the outlets remain 
 unobstruotwl. When drains are .so constructed as to need no lepair, 
 and when it is certain that they will la it as long as the land lasts, all 
 that "^ further necessary is to ^.harge the land, as a part of its annual 
 expense like rent or taxes, a sum that will cover the interest on the 
 cost of the work, and there is en end of it. Thk Benefit is Perma- 
 nent. 
 
 In many localities where there is suitable clay and no rnanufao- 
 turers of tile, the plan fcas been adopted among farmers who wish to 
 get a tile yard established in their locality, to subscribe a certain 
 amount and then advertise foi' a tile maker, offering, as an induce- 
 ment, to take the amount of their subscriptions in the Gist tile manu- 
 factured, thus insuring the manufacturer a sure and speedy market izt 
 his first lal)or. This so far has been found a prompt and effectual 
 course for bringing tile makers where wanted. 
 
21 
 
 In localitiftB where neither til© noi' clay to make them, can be ob- 
 tained, good and serviceable drainn have been made by laying boards in 
 the manner shown in the following diagrams, showing that when the 
 lands are hard chiy, tho drainsveqaitea no bottom board. 
 
 N fci. A A 
 
 t 
 
 DEPTH OF DRAINS. 
 
 They must bs below the reach of the subsoil plow, for in the revo- 
 lution which drain will work in the process of culti^ating the soil, 
 the subsoil plow will follow in its path. Tliey must go beneath the 
 reach of fro.^t, so that the water in the pipes shall not freeze. They 
 must alo be deep enough to remove the -water in tho soil below the 
 reach of the roots of plants. Adepth of fr^-^mtwo and ahalfto three feet 
 will aconinplisli all these purposes. 
 
 COST OF DRAINING. 
 
 Hertoforc the largest p;irt of the cost of draining has been in the 
 cuttingoftlie ditches by tiui slow process of tho pick and spade 
 With the aid of Carter's Ditcher, they can be cut for five cents per 
 rod. and the cost of laying tho tile and " finishing" should not exceed 
 this amount. The cost of file, if tiles are used, will vary with the 
 eize, and the cost per acre, with the frequency of the drains. 
 
 The .size of the tiles used in draining tho pirk grounds in Butialo, 
 
 New York, were 1| inches. The plots of ground were large, the 
 
 drains thirty-three feet apart, three feet in depth, and the drainage so 
 
 perfect that the grounds are dty immediately after heavy rains. 
 
 Tiie tiles used in draining Central Park, Now York, were two inch, 
 
 and the drains forty feet a|)art. The di-ainage is thorough, and the 
 
 lawns in this pai-k are a marvel of freshness and beauty during the 
 
 severest droughts. 
 The present price of ti^es in Albany, N. Y., varies from |10 to 
 
 $12 per 1000 feet, At the latter price the drains leing 42 feet 
 
 a] art, requiring G3 rods of drain to the ac-", the tile for draining one 
 
 acie would cost $12. IG. Tho cost thew .»f draining one acre nay be 
 
 estimated as follows : 
 
 Tib for 63 rods, at $12 per 1000 feet, - - $12.46 
 
 Cutting rods of ditches with Carter's Ditcher, the 
 
 maximum price would be 5 cts. per rod, 3 16 
 
 Laying tile and finishing, cts. per rod, 3 15 
 
 $18 76 
 
82 
 
 Hut «» tiUof tho «iK noimed in the above eslimato cun be procured m 
 „iry ; Is of C nada, at from 85 to 87 per 1,000, tbe cost would oo,. 
 
 "1I!lh„ve expenditures ought ,0 .Iram any -^-^/^fj^^f 
 Tbe increase in tho first years crop, ...r whatever k.nd n might br 
 rbe mcreas,, m t 1 thiscost.leavmg at tho end 
 
 according to all past ex.itnen,,.," Hi 
 
 oflh.iirstvar. Iheliko amount to \,-. ailde. t... the >aliie oi 
 : T •mini .nuri„con.eo„th,. world bo 33 per cent, annually 
 DiaiVne i.,aU« the larm-r, to agreat e.teut, the master ol hi» v 
 «, in. With a .loppy, drenched, cold, uncongenial -^.,^'-" 
 saturated with .:very rain, aud taken days, an<l eveu »«-."! 
 ^Lesufficiei,tlvdr;towo,kupo„,hls efforts ai-e conslantly baffle. 
 W nnfav„rah!e"wei ther, at tho:>e times when it is most importaut that 
 h[, work p.w-ed without interuptiou. Week, are lost, a a season 
 wl en the! are all to short lor the work to bo done, 'lie ground 
 must be hurri«lly, aud imperfectly prepared, and the seed . p 
 too lale often to rot in the over-soaked sou, retpuru s '";"''-' '°'* 
 Iil^edrgrl at a time which makes it cUremely doubtful whe.hor 
 the crops will ripen before the frost destroys II. , , , 
 
 TheLcessary sommer cultivation, between ,he ,ov... has o be 
 done a, the w ather permits ; and much more oi it is reMan-d b- 
 olo of the baking of the ground. The whole life of the armer in 
 Lt, becomes a constant struggle with nature, aial be <.«l>ts alw.^, 
 .t a disadvantage. What he does by the work o, ^^y^^J^^^^.. 
 .lone bv a single night's storm. Weeds grow apaceaiid the land ,s to . 
 wet to'admittf their being e..:.minated. By tho tunn h -s 
 
 .Irv en<.n./h other pn-ssing work occupies the tune ; and if, hnally, a 
 lay eom-wl"-*,v,na; be attacked, t. y offer ten times the res,,- 
 tL th at thee would have done a week ..arlier. Tho .ipeiations of 
 
 Hum are carried ore expensively than ^^^'^.^^^^ 
 
 .■onstantlv allow.sl a smaller force to b,' employc.l. He c,o,i» which 
 U h d..ubtful pron.i.,e, r.-,u,re the same cultivation as tnou 
 
 ;.;". were c-ertain u, bo remunerative, and the work can be done only 
 „W. incr.ase.1 labor, because of the bad condition oflhe soil 
 
 Z the cultivation of retentive soils, drainage is the key to all im- 
 p.-oveiueut, and its ^avitntage .s to be measured not simply by ..- 
 ..fleet which it directly produces in ine.easin;? prodeelion but, in sti 1 
 greater de.ree,..y the extent to which it prepares the way lort o sue ess- 
 M application of improved preoesses, mak.s tho farmer mdepen-Vat 
 
'2Z 
 
 of weather and season, and oti'ers freer sco[ie to intelligence in the dl 
 rection of his affairs. 
 
 The inventive genius of our ago, so far as farming is involved, has 
 baan exercized chiefly in the production of such implemynta as relate 
 to the ure of the plow, the drill and cuItivator,and tho reaper aii>i 
 mower. 
 
 Now that population and wealth ui-e increasing, land becoming 
 rnoro valuable, a need of a bftttor system of farming is felt, such a& 
 will render cold, v/ot, clayey, retpnti%e soils, porous, friable and pro- 
 ductive, and av:id tJio risk s of the failure of crops.iby reason of short, 
 col ;1, unfavorable Poasons. Such a system as will enable tho farmer 
 to reclaim the thousands of acres of our swamp landsthathave^hitherto 
 engendered nothing but rausketoos, roptiies. fevers and agues, and 
 make ."iicm tftem with vegetation. 
 
 Appreciating this need, Mr. Henry Carter, a CanuciiiUi Mechanic, 
 iias spent yeans of patient thought, labor ami experiment in efibrts to 
 produce a machine that will facilitate and chi)apen tho procespof drain- 
 inir, iclievn it of the slow, bard operation of iht? pick and spade, and 
 transfer it to the stronger muscles of t''e hcr.se, as the processes of 
 leaping and mowing linve been, and reduce the cost aTJtl ]aVx>r to an al- 
 most nominal sum. 
 
 Tiiis maciiine has been rendered as ne.ir perfect; as il .''.leins po.ssible 
 to make it, and it is now offered to the public at such a j.rice as will 
 finable most farmers to puiciia-sf. It is simple in oon.stniction. strong, 
 easily worked and not linl.ic to get out of order. 
 
 With proper niauagf men!, a team of two men and four huise.s, will 
 cut a ditch from 1,000 to ],. 500 yards long, 3 feet deep, 14 inches 
 wide at top and 10 at buttMu, in ten houn:. accorduigto the chara-cter 
 of the soib 
 
 This machine- w;is litst introduced to the public in J8G9,;»ud has in 
 all oase;H ia vhich ^t has been tried, fulfilled ull the con- 
 ditions of a tirist class ditcher. In 'ivery instance where it has bfien 
 brought into competition wiih any other machine, it has proved itself 
 far sui)erior and iias taken all the first prizes for such a machine, both 
 in the United Siaie.s ami Canada. 
 
 The illustrjuion lu-relo ariuexod wid give agenei'al idea ot' it« cob- 
 str notion. 
 
 Its principal parts are an iron wheel fear feet in diameter, tight 
 inches wide.v i'li two llangfR of five inches in width projecting from 
 its t»dgeib. 
 
2* 
 
 , - „„ tho mrinl-ert ortV.o ■"•heel, »re cogs eorres- 
 
 Between the (l.it.go» on 'noP^Pierj , ^.^^ ed in couplet. 
 
 ponding in length to the w>dth of the fiang . an<^a ^^^^^ _^^^^ 
 
 L distance, twelve inch™ "''"'■"'7" ' ''" IH; cuttev set in .uch 
 
 aosely to the ^""--/j; ■:„;:;!• rwtnL flange,; .s the 
 , manner as to cnt the arth »"« '»'" ^ ^^^^.^ t„ tt„ top, 
 
 „heel revolvcB the earth >s canght ^J *= "^^^ »' ,,^„„,,, th„ earth 
 
 ::"«::':.;. thl t,.e„ch, to he .plaoed^ ^>^>en -n>.d^ 
 ^be whole is connected with a car n,.uv,M, Stan 3 dr^^^. ^^^ 
 
 manages the »->"- ''"=>'■'""';' f "a;hinris drawn forward 
 ril until the depth re4uired >s reached. 
 
 Society. 
 H CAETEE,Aylmer.Ontavio, DITCHING MACHINE 
 
 alrecvate.1. U does its P ' ^ J^^ J^'^^^: J,,,^ lands.' The Society 
 :iU is predicted fo. .^ m . - -^j »,°,,, ,,,o. of the exhibitors 
 a,vardeithevadii.lomaorBUve ^ ^^ ^^^^^ Agricultural 
 
 The Committee "'^ '' °'^^^^\ .^^^'.d Drainiug Machine, exhibited by 
 Society to examine tie Dta^^ they .ere present at 
 
 H. Carter, of AyUner, ^>'^^J'\°' '^^'^ .^ ^^ ^he i3th insb. Th^ ground 
 S... Hunter's,aud -auanecl t at vo.k on tu ^^^^ ^i.^hine, which 
 
 being dry and b=dced hau g.u « ^-o, Ccmmittee and a number of gen- 
 perlurmed to the ^^^^f;"^,'^" \^ ,'° i,i. Tlie Machine, in the dry, hard 
 [lemen Nvho were I'J-f '^^^^^2^) clies at one cut, and made a ditch 
 g, ound, cut two ^»^/. ;f .;,7^i" in.bos deep in a short time. Your 
 eight inches wide and two ee ^'^^ "\ \ ^ ,1,^ ease to the oper- 
 Co^^mittee were ^^f^'^^^^^^^, Jd the small cost of re- 
 ator. the great ^m^^^fyj>^ ' Thervenoit the Machine a decided sue- 
 ,,Us when parts a- ^^^^^ ,,',,,,ted." 
 oess. All ot wmcu r .^^ Nqreis HAtsTBiJJ, 
 
 E. G. BrvOWN, 
 Amos Clabk, Jr- 
 
25 
 
 'J'iie Machine is simple iu couHti-uctioii. voiy strosi.L;, a <.| not liable 
 to get out of order. It will work satisfactorily in i\n' havdest, as well 
 :is the toughest ami most adhesive clay soils, will also work admira 
 blv iu sandy or light soils, and is warranted to cut tVom 100 to 20:) 
 rods ofditcli per day, :\ feet deep and 11 inches wide at the top and S 
 inches wide at the bottom. Two moii and from two to four hor^ ■ 
 are requiied to work it, according to the nature of the soil, 
 
 f'rovi a Special Co niiiUt.ee <>/' Farnitm. 
 
 \Vc, the undersigned, having been presejit at a trial of Carter's im- 
 proved Ditching Machine, held on the farm of Mr. Au'„' Murray, 
 Malahide, Ontario, 28th July 1869, hereby certify that tue said I\Iu- 
 ♦;nine, in our judgment, is perfectly adapted for the purposes of Lanrl 
 r)raining,supplying a machino exceedingly simple in construction,easily 
 iiand!ed°and admirably adap-ted for agricultural purposes, and for' 
 whicl), we feel a.ssured, a gcK-d return will ba realized by any person 
 raquiring it, being satisfied lliat under ordinary circumstances the 
 Machine" is capable cf makitig drains from 2^ lo 3 foet deep and 1 1 
 inches wide, at a cost of from two to four cents por rod, according to 
 the nature of the soil operated on ; and wo therefore recommend tlie 
 said IMdcliMre tc the favorable, notice of the farming communiry. 
 
 •o'"'- 
 
 T. M. ISairu, Warden, E 
 
 Geo. F. Clark, M. 1).. 
 
 Edwin Price, M. D., 
 
 Ezra Foote, M. D., 
 
 \V. E. Murray, Conveyancer, 
 
 A. Hill, Mill Owner, 
 
 W. R. Farthings, Merchant. 
 
 G. I. Walker, ^Merchant. 
 
 W. J. Kerr, Merchant 
 
 Andrew Murray, Merchant, 
 
 Rev. Joseph Glutton, 
 
 J. W. Gillett, J. P., Farmer, J 
 
 Jas. Brown, J. P., Farmer, 
 
 P. Clayton, J. P., Farmer. 
 
 T. Locker, J. -P., Farmer, 
 
 Abram Bemer, Farmer, 
 
 Jesse Learn, Farmer, 
 
 Ganes Pritckard, Faruujr, 
 Harvy VaupRt*;er, 
 Seth Lewis, Farmer, 
 
 A. Treadwell, Farmer, 
 
 B. Schooley, Farmer, 
 Joel W. Davis, Farrccr, 
 E. J . Adams, Farmer, 
 Ira Doolittle, Farr»)er, 
 Pwichard Locker, Farmer, 
 A. J. Davis, Farmer, 
 Wm. Adame, Farmer. 
 
 Vanpatter, Farmer, 
 [lichard Hill, Farmer, 
 Jas. McCausland, Farmer, 
 Simon Miller, Farmsr, 
 Jesse Kinsey, Farmer, 
 Calvin Adams, Farmer. 
 
 From the .Buffalo CoiutneiCial Advei'tixe<, Ifuy :J6t/i, ISH. 
 
 l\\c Ditcher is in daily use at the Parade, .ul Mr. Throop, the 
 overseer of the work, spoke in hige terms of its porfjrmance. He 
 stated ihat ditches coidd be cut with it in a better wanner than the 
 Karne is done by hand, in half the time andono-third the expense. In 
 fact, the ditcher appears admirably to answer the purpose for which 
 it is interided,in all ve.=;ppotfi, and is, we believe, destined to emwo into 
 A erv ueneral ukc. 
 
Of, 
 
 From a Special, ComuiiUeecU Geneoa, New York. 
 
 r rom a ope<.i,u Tarter'a Patent Ditching 
 
 We, tUe undersigned, having s en H. ^^^^'^'J ^^.^, -^^ joes 
 Machine at work have no /'^^^^^ °^^^ " "^^i^ ° simple in con- 
 its work most satisfactorily and oxpeditiou^y^ invaluable in the 
 strnction, compact, aud easily ^'^^^S^^; *^";j, , j, all parts of the 
 improvement and reclaiming of nch wet i 
 
 oountry. ,j, ^ Maxwell Si Bro.. Geneva, N. Y. 
 
 William Wright, 
 
 William Scoou, " ^, 
 
 W. d: T. Smith 
 William Chips, 
 0. M. French, Waterloo, 
 
 I; T. Newland " 
 
 .lohn B. Dixon, Tile Factory. 
 
 (;.a..va, N. Y., .June 10th, 1S0<». 
 
 A few gentlemen visited the farm fD^^^^^^^ ^^ ^^^^ ^J^^. 
 
 vosterday afternoon, to ^^>*"^^ * ^Vra nv but the Machine was run 
 bitching Machine. It was cold ""^ ^^^^J'-^^'^.^its. It cut a ditch 
 ning and gave a full and tau; ex lubiUon o i tn ^^^^^ _^^ ^^^^ 
 
 three feet iu depth, «^v«\\\"'^!'^^^^ ";^3' ^ two hours and a half,cut a 
 bottom. On Wednesday, this ^^f^^ "^^^^^^^^^ -^^ jepth. It will cut 
 ditch eighty rods long -"'^^f'^.^^'^^J^^^^," passing over the ground. 
 ;a,out three inches ui depth ^^^^^^^^^ ,^ "^event it from fall- 
 Thc earth is thrown off to one s de i-V':^«;« P^^.^^^ ..^u a^aw the 
 ing or washing back into the d to 1 wo U o ^,„,truction is 
 
 Drtcher,biit four of common sue '^ . f ^^'J\ ^^ durability must be all 
 simple, its -vking exceedn>|y peiiect, am^^^^^^ .^ Y^^^ ^^^^^ 
 that could reasonably be expected „ecessaiy on most 
 
 farmers of this section n«ed (j^ j^^^/ ^^^la'io.^ more than half its 
 farms. Ditching, with ^l^^^^J^f ;^;:;;S be thoroughly drained 
 terror to farmers, since a whole tar co ^^^ ^^ ^ 
 
 with but very l^"l^l^;;«^•' ^^^..^^f theditch in perfect order for the 
 plow, and dashes out the ^f tmn of the chtch 1 ^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^ ^^^. 
 
 From the JU.falo Dail), Conner, May 20th, JS7J 
 ,. ^ * fi.l f.iv.n it is invaluable, and when once a practi- 
 
 .ingle season, »po» a rt.«'<;-,r,f/Xh.„e ,=, ..« l.nnci,l. ..»„, 
 
 
I.;;„u llir SI. L<wU IJiiil;/ HepvMimu. .l/..-« .'W/., IS/ 1. 
 
 r 
 
 
 THE OBJECT OF THE MACIIINK- 
 
 Befovo <rivins( some aescri^.tionof this important agvicnltiual iniple- 
 ,nent, it mav bo ^veU to glance for a moment at its history and its oh 
 iect For a long time there has been required among the cultivatois 
 'of the soil on a large scale, seme meaiis by which furrows could b. 
 ma^^le at a reasonable co«t, prior to the laying down of he tiles tot 
 .Irainago The old method of digging trenches for the laving of tho 
 drain-pipes is manifestly slow, cumbrous and expensive. In the ab- 
 sence 'of some easily-available machine th«relr.ve been and still are 
 large tracts of valuable land lying waste and nnpreductive. It has 
 consequently been the aim of various inventors to devise some imple- 
 ment by wMch a furrow of sufficient depth and width oouU be made, 
 for the reception of drainage tiles. 
 
 * <;. * 
 
 The amount of work done by the xMachine is its priucii^le recom- 
 mendation. It will cut a furrow of Irom 200 to 250 rods m ength, 
 hree feet deep.in one day, if the ground is moist. If it is dry the 
 distance will be from 100 to 150 rods. In wei land, for which it i. 
 intended, it will do the work of twenty men. •, , ,- 
 
 The trial yesterday was well calculated to show the merits ot Uie 
 Machine although it was thought that a more soft soil would display 
 1 capacity to'greater advantage. Mr. Foote, ex-commissioner ot 
 United States patents, who has had large experience with patents, 
 was much pleasid with the Machine, while the other spectator, were 
 rIso inclined to rogar.l it as an important and indispensihle farm re- 
 qnisite. 
 
 From the HI. Louis Democrat, May,! S7 1 . 
 TRIAL or cartek's ditchim; maciunk. 
 
 On Saturday afternoon, a number of capitalists and agriculturalists 
 assembled on Uie vacant space west of th fa;r Ground-the site ot 
 the old Benton Barracks_to witness a trial of Car ers Duchui^ Ma- 
 chine. Among those present we noticed Jeff K. Clark Col. Shackel- 
 ford. Henry Von Phul, Wm. H. Glasgow, WmH. Glasgow Jr., S. 
 W. i3all. aplanter of St. James' paiish La^,.C. W. Murtfalct, Secre- 
 tary State Board of Agriculture, John Richardson, of S.. Louis, 
 Captain Lindsay, superintendent of the Fair Grounds, and others. 
 
 Messrs. Clark & Gleason, dexlers in farm machinery and owne^ o 
 the Ditching Machine for the west and south, ^o. 3 ^ort.^ Main 
 Street, St. Louis, were on the ground, and superintended the exh bi- 
 tion The earth was found to be terribly hord : so hard indece, that 
 a spade in the hands of a strong man produced no impression upon 
 it. The Ditching Maclime, arawn by iuui Jior^Oo, es-.a^-,- -..- ^ • 
 of cutting out a ditch a hundred yards or more m length, and, not- 
 
withstanding the hard bake.l carth.did it cflectually aud -^'^tiHtact.rily 
 The Machine can be worked mth two or four horacs, and fiom 150 
 to 300 rods of ditch, according to tho soil, can be made m a day. 
 For irrigation and drainage, this Machine will revolutionize thi« con- 
 tinent It Ls just Avhat haa long been needed. No more spading and 
 liaaing is necessary. We predict that in le«s tnan two years every 
 well-to-do farmer on the Mississipi valley, whose lands require dram- 
 in-, will number the Ditcher among his necessary tarm ^niplcments^ 
 We aie pleased to state that the owners leoe.ved sovoral orders befoie 
 the close of the trial. 
 
 from the Rural ]VorhL .u, A,jnr.uUm-<,l Painu- of Si. Loni,. Mo. 
 
 At the trial near the Fair Grounds, a ditch of one hundred pacen 
 louiz and two and a half feet deep wa.-, cut in about one liour. U is 
 impossible to conceive of a more disadvantageous condition ot the 
 soil • not a bit of moisture seeme.l to have been left m the earth Ui. 
 Machine was drawn by four good horses, and worked to the s..tis ar- 
 lion of all who witnessed the trial. Ourselves ha.l hold ot the han 
 .lies and on one occasion put a hundred ur.d eighty pounds(our respec- 
 ve avoirdupois,) just to see what it could do, and we are en irel> 
 sSId thai the DitcI.er is a valuable invention and a very strong 
 machine. The horses work on a long evener-a team on each side it 
 four are used ; under favorable circumstances, two are said to be able 
 to do the work. A tongue passes between tho teams ; but being 
 hung on a ratchet, is entirely ilexiV>le. and does not at all we, v on the 
 
 "^^^rl tlXs, no farm where there i. not some land that couhl 
 be made the most valuable on the farm-being generally pur« 1^"^"; 
 -!if a ditch of greater or less length could bo cut and the land under- 
 drained. Now here is a machine which two men-each with a good 
 team-can purchase, and with which they -nmove^.oni place to 
 place, as we vised to do (and do now) with our threshers. We he 
 late Aot to recommend it as one of the most praotial and N.iluable 
 inventions. 
 
 I 
 
 The following are from Canadians, wh« have had these mackines 
 iu use for a considerable l< ngth of time.and have therefore thoroughly 
 tested them. 
 
 Messrs. Carter & Stewart, Prop's of Carter's Ditching Machine. 
 " Gents -In connection with my neighbor, Mr. Zedekiah Dance,we 
 mnchased this spring, one of Carter's I)itching Machines and m jus- 
 puichased tius spi g, ^^^^^^^.^^_ ^^^^ thinking I may be aoi;ig my 
 
 T'other fame a g4t service (manv of ^hom understand ail the 
 benefits Sng alio the difficulties and loss n getting 
 
 It Tone bH and )I have much pleasure therefore inmnking knownthe 
 
•_MI 
 
 i(!swll of iny own cxneiienco bo ftiv in luaeliiiu' ihainin^. Willi tlio 
 ?taid machine, two span of horses and my own labor, T have cut 'nor*- 
 .litch in one hour, suitAblefor laying the tile, than any three meu 1 
 have ever employed have done for mo in a day, tii« work bt.ag 
 iierformed in a much noat c and more workmanlike manner. 1 have 
 cut over 150 rods of ditch. -50 inches deep.ready for rho tile in loss than 
 six hours wo.kiuj? time (the soil being heavy clay), and on trial lo 
 test the capabilities of the machine,havo out a ditch 35 rods in length 
 and thirty inches deep, in 45 minutes, making at the rate of 450 rods 
 per 10 working hours. 1 hav« mado with the Machine, drains with 
 sharp curves as e>i»tly and speedily as sstraight ones. T ha.vc also cut 
 a ditch .'5 feet 3 inches deep, with the IV' Mie after a few hour s 
 practice without difficulty. I found the ine as easily handled 
 
 ,iS a plow, and a very little heavier on tha i., ., and with -^ little 
 practice l had no difficultv in leveling the bottou, of the ditch for the 
 tile. I found on careful reckoning, that the ii«.st six hours' work oi 
 the Machine had earned for me a sum of money eijual to one years 
 interest on the cost, and after three days' work bad earned for me 
 more than sufficient to pay the cost of ray half share. 1 can th^-e- 
 fore sav with confidence that the Machine has worked far beyond Mr. 
 Dance's and my expectations, ard far beyond the guarantee given . 
 with the Machine, and I feel justified in recommending the said Ma- 
 chine to all i>artie,s who contemplate under-draining. 
 
 ROBERT BALLAH, 
 I 5th Ton., S. Dorchester. County of Elgin. 
 
 From An-Mba/d MrKrdhr. I'xq.. M. P. P. for Ikdhwell. Ontario. 
 
 This is u. certify that I us,<d one of Cartoi's Ditcliing -^lachines 
 laBt fall, and in the si-ring of the present year, and can confidently 
 recommend it as the best implement of the kind I have seen With a 
 little experience the bottmn of the ditch can be made quite level and 
 ready to lay the tile. With tw« pair of horses, a driver, and a man 
 to hold the Machine, a ditch 150 lod^ in length, and from tvfo and a 
 half to three feet in depth, can easily be cut in one day. I he Ma- 
 chine being all constructed of iv.on is most durable uixl not liable to 
 hi'eak or get out of rep ni . 
 
 ^Signed,) .\BCHIBALD McKELLKB. 
 
 Ohatham, August 3<). 1S7(>. 
 
 From the Sujja-hitaulevt of Iho Ivnatv- .Uylvw. Lov<lvn, Ontario. 
 
 W. Wild, Esq., 
 
 My dear . -,- T willingly bear testimony to the value and efficiency 
 of the Carter :,'Ditchin?» Machine, purchased from you. Last year we 
 drained fourteen acres NNitli it for our gardei* in very stoney ground 
 In Heor "rounrl. whither sand or clay, it works well -uid rapidly, and 
 saves labor to u large extent. Next year I shall be better able to give 
 vou the oast of draining bv the Machine compared with hand labov,a8 
 
30 
 
 f:Z''jZVoZ^er;:L°ok. thre, feet deep in four .,o„r„. 
 
 I remain voiirs truly, 
 
 HENRY lANDOR. 
 
 Fro.,. Crldeon Decker, Esq.. WestmMr, OntarU. to the Editor of 
 the Farmers' Advocatr. 
 
 «,.«on^mnRto know the result of all now imple- 
 
 ^ents «"^\-'^(^;;j.f ^D^^; iing Machine, I beg to state that having 
 much abovit i^-^'^^.^'/*, !;';"".», I ij^ve found the results to be n^ost 
 given It a tair tual tV^iB ^pn%' ^ ' ^ ^^^ ,^^, j,,, ,een it working. 
 
 I have tried it m iiiJv-,i ^"'•> *=,(.. , ^verv cne that saw it at 
 
 bring it into general use. GIDEON DECKER, 
 
 Westminster. 
 
 . ^ .-j: 4 ^^ fnihpWorkina of the Machine, was addressed 
 
 ^'''^'T,Zm£7il^' ^^^^^^^^^^ ^»"- '"'• ''''■ 
 
 -.jr^^^^-f.e..™e.^ — 
 Lambeth, Nov. 2/ th, Ibb.). 
 
 ^;f,r tv,.,^ Tarter's Patent Ditching Machine has been 
 «I hereby ^^^'f ^ *f^"^ „S^^^^^ Central Park, for the past 
 
 in operation on t^l^g'•7"««J^; ""^. ^J^^ .^^ik for ^hich it Is intend 
 Meek, and its capacity for V^''^''''^}J ^^JJ ^^ extremely tough clay, 
 
 ed wL thoroughly tested -^--^-o^^.'^^i^^rdul 2^ fee't de/p. 
 inixed with cobble stone It cut 1-UU J ai ^^^^^ 
 
 amount of ^itcn leit m i , • ^g^i^g ^-eiatlv? ditiei-ence between 
 S^c^^fSl^r^h^atS^ -d by Machine as .hus: 
 
 '^iz^^c^s:^ -^^ 
 
 Cutting 1,200 yards of ditch by Machine 
 
 2 Day's wages of operator at M-|jOO 
 
 2 " 2teanisancldriv;r8at^-^20.UO ^^5.00 
 
 ' 
 
 ' . f 
 
 Saving by Machine on 1,200 yard* of ditch $66.00 
 
31 
 
 This test was made upon what 1 consider ths mo.t ^^^^^^^^^ P*^^ °[ 
 the Kround and I can add that the operation of he machine was a 
 complete success, and the.efore its best «-«°«™';;;"^^^°"\_„oop 
 (Signed.) GEORGE IUUUi\ 
 
 Overseer of Work on Central Park. 
 Buffalo, May '29th. 1871. 
 
 The foregoing are brief extracts fr.m Canadian and American pa- 
 pers, relating simply to the working of Carter's Ditcher m tho field : 
 
 Lro 
 
 c^c 
 
XXTE IlKC [O NOTJFV INTKNDLNCi rUllCHASEllS OF 
 
 'tfftT'' 
 
 f 
 
 lit 
 
 That tho following art' tlie uiily piirtios iiiUljoiized bv us to^ man li tine 
 the said M;ichine in Ontario, from whom CJertiticates' and other 
 information as to tFie working of the Machine can be obtained : 
 
 John j\bc)i, Woodbridgo F. U., (!oiinty of York. 
 
 Kyer A- Bros.. Rieliuioiul Hill F. ()., County of York. 
 
 L. D Sawyer ik (Jo., IIairjilto)i. 
 
 John Watson, Ayr !'. (>..(!onnty of Waterloo. 
 
 McPhersoii, (ilasgONV it Co., Fingal P. O., ('ounty of Kigin. 
 
 John Smith. St. (laliricl Look.s, ^lonti'oai. 
 
 CARTER & STEWART, 
 
 I'copi'it'torN. 
 
 Avlmer V. O . Hljriu Co.. {)ii(. 
 
 I