Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1859-10-12

rain and snow, and the drainage of sur
rounding slopes, aided by the retentiye
character of the subsoil, different treat
ment seems necessary. bitches must in
tercept the inflow of water-runninga around
the plot at the point where upland ceases
and swamp or marsh begins. These will
divert and carry away the surplus water,
and by the aid of frequent drains across
the marsh, proportiOned to its extent, will
soon change the character and value of the
land. The stagnant pond, the miry slough.
and the boggy marsh, will soon become firm
ground to the foot of man and beast, and
when cleared, will yield most ample and
surprising returns for the expenses of so
desirable an Improvement
As recent example of surtace-draining
Of swamps, we may cite the reader to the
statement Of c. L. Kiersted, of Uuster CO.,
given in the March No. of the Journal
of our State Society, and to whom was
awarded premium of $40. He had on
his farm eighteen acres of such land, ''nost
of it covered with roots and stuups; the
surface very soft-cattle or horses could
not 60 upon it, except after long drouth,
without becoming mired" In company
with the owner of the adjoining lands. they
opened an outlet at an expense to each of
about S25-a part of the work too often
hindering the improvement of such lands
materially, for the want of union of purpose
between those interested. During the sea-
son he fitted twelve acres for crops, seven
in time for planting to corn. He cross
ditched and drained it, and plowed with
lap-furrow, it having sward of water
grass; prepared it for planting in the usual
way, but on the most of it, put small
handful Of horse manure in each hill, with /
q view ''to warm the hill" The manure
part yielded some lS5 bushels of ears per
acre. After finishing this, he drained about .
FIVE acres more by cutting ditch around /
it, three feet deep and little over four feet
wide at the top, on this he grew turnips,
cabbages, and buckwheat. He afterwards !
ditchcd the remainder of the lot in the same
way, drawed out the roots and stumps,
cleared off the briers and bushes, and has
the entire plot plOwed for corn the present
spring. 1t is in beautiful order, as mellow
as ashes, and he confidently expects large
crop. The whole expense of draining in
CURED by Air. X, IS S51.4O, and the
land is row valued by him at 5000 Per
acre.
Mr.. Kierstcd says he has had many
years experience in draining swamps in
Greene county, (his home until within the
last three or four years. and always met
with the best success-Aas made them the
best and most productive Of any part ofhis
land. He prefers open bitches to covered
drains-cleaning them whenever it becomes .
(We have found a good deal of
cleaning necessary in our own experience,
in case where the fall was slight, and the
earth through which the outlet must be dug.
the hardest kind of hard-pan.)
The culture and crops Mr.. Il. recon- )
mends are worthy of mention, and must i,
close our notice of this subject. "Swamps
of peat or muck, should be plant !,
ID with corn or potatoes at least two sue
,essive years then seed down in the fall
Eith about half bushel of ftimothy-keep
t in grass but two years, then plant again,
lse 200 bushels Stacked lime to the acre;
liant two years. then seed again-the lon
,er yOu work it in this way, l think, the /
,etter. Country Gent. 6