Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1863-04-24
Land Drainage.

On MONDAY evening, Inc legislative
agricultural meeting discussed the me-
cessity and economy of thorough drain
age, Simon Brown o. the New England
Farmer in the chair He urged the adj
vantages of draining, from such facts as
he had derived in part from experience.
Lands that are thoroughly drained, he
said, will bear the drought better than
undrained lands. Drains should not be-
less than four feet deep. Lands that
are well drained are more fertile. Dir.
Warren of Auburn had drained swae
land to great advantage. He opened the
drains twenty feet apart, filled them
with stone, covered them with straw and
then with turf. His drained swales had
produced well annually without manure.
He grew crop of potatoes on piece
of swamp lard, that six hills would ill
bushel basket. Mr.. Smith of CRANKY
said he drained swale, as did Mr.. War
rem, to great advantage, but like Mr.. W.,
he would prefer farm that needed no
drainage, for it is costly work. Mr..
Howard Of the Boston CuItvator favor
I'd the drainage Of uplands. He refer
red to Mr. Johnston's practice in west
ern New York, and to drainage in Scot
land. Experience and observation prove
the advantages which result from drain
age. Mr.. Wetherell of the Boston Gull
tivator urged the necessity of draining
clay lands, especially. He stated that it
lad been demonstrated that 100 pounds
of dry sand will absorb and hold 20
pounds of water, if the sand be put in
bag, before it will drip; 100 pounds of
loan in like condition will hold 40
pounds Of water and 100 pounds of
pure, dry clay will hold 20 pounds of
water. Thus is shown the difference in
the tenacity of soils. Clay soils, be said
should be drained four feet deep. He
added that much experience had demon
strated this to be better than three feet
Drainage, he said, greatly increased the
fertility Of land by allowing the water
and tie air to percolate through it, and
thereby greatly increasing the seration
Of the sol, making it both easier and
EARLIER TO work, less liable to suffer from
Drought and frost. He mentioned farm
hat before it was drained kept nine
COWS, and afterwards it kept seventeen,
The interest of the drainage investment
being about $50 a year. The speaker I
bought no farmer can afford 10 till clay
soils without deep thorough drainage
f lower of Agawam highly commended |
the economy of the drainage of both
swamps and uplands. He confirmed the
remarks Of the speakers that hand pre-
ceded him, and was glad that on one
subject, all are agreed, however diverse
may have been their views, theoretical
aud practical, on all other subjects dis
cussed at those meetings. Mr. Drew OF
Newton, made some structures on the
depth of drainage as urged by Mr. WetL-
erell. Mr. ID. evidently having more
in the economy of shallow
drainage than the gentleman whom he
He objected to the citing of
English experience, as the climate there
is different, ard they have many more
rainy days than we do here. lie also
objected to deep drainage ofswamp lands.
Mr. Wetberell responded by saying that
hougn the number Of rainy days in
England is annually greater than here,
he amount of water that falls there, is
much less than il is here. lie consider
I'd English facts aud experience in re-
gard to land drainage pertinent to the
discussion here. He did not advocate
hat swamp lands should be drained four
Get deep. He mentioned swamp
Trained on his fathers farm, where the
muck was not IA foot deep, that the first
,rop of potatoes raised after drainage
Jald the cost OF opening the drains which
we're not covered. But for the drainage
If clay soils, he would not recommend to !
ny tile less than four feet deep. Mr.
Tower Of Lanesboro, highly approved of
and drainage, he relating both expert
nee and observation in its favor He
lid not lay his drains as low as four feet
'elow the surface, though he was not
understood to object TO that depth. A
pan from tie Connecticut valley, whose
ame was not given, said, that though
he hour Tor adjournment had been an y
ounced, there is one benefit resulting +
rom drainage not mentioned by any
peaker, that he should like TO name.
The drainage of swamp in his neigh
orhood bad rid the inmates of the farm
ouses in its vicinity Of mosquitoes.
The growing of maize aud the smaller 1
rain will be discussed at the next meet .