The Union. [volume] (Georgetown, Del.) 1863-1866, 1863-11-20
DRAINAGE.

1t may appear superrogatory at this day
to many, to say anything in favor Of draining
lands as process preparatory to their i'm
provement and profit. Every farmer, and in
deed every person Of observation, whether
farmer or not, is aware that very large por-
tion of our rich bottom lands, in some sections
called "swamps," and in others meadows"
are but imperfectly drained, and although
they cOnfessedly surpass all other lands in
their capacity for producing grass when un-
der proper management, yet, from mistaken
idea of the obstacles in the way of their thor
ough improvement, they are permitted to ex-
ert only q moiety of their natural energy,
und are indeed so imperfectly managed as to
leave but narrow margin of actual profit to
those by whom they are occupied or owned.
The natural tendency of all these low bot
toms, without perhaps single exception, is
to produce the worthless indigenous grasses
in great profusion, and this inherent propen-
sity can never be entirely overcome, and the
rich soil of which they are composed made to
exert its energies in bringing forth other and
more lucrative products, without the adoption
Va 'ii"AVuSh SyslSm Vi urdlhuSo.
The superabundance of water in these
lands is generally found to emanate from
springs located around the circumference Of
the bQttom, and often concealed from observa-
Walton. These springs are outlets Of subter-
raneous fountains, inexhaustible in them
selves, because perpetually replenished from
the great laboratory of nature, and the only
way therefore in which their product can be
conveyed off, or successfully disposed of, is,
first to ascertain their location and then
strike deep drain through the land to some
point where the water will escape. Side or
lateral drains are sometimes required thor
oughly to accomplish the object, though in a
great majority of cases main drdia will suf-
fee. Throwing the land into broad ridges,
with the dead burrows running transyersely
to the principal drain or ditch, render the sx-
cavation of side or laterail drains superfuous,
and is less Objectionable, as it does not so
much interfere with the labor of cultivation,
and gives the land, when laid to grass, a more
seemly and regular appearance.
Lands of this description, when once fairly
redeemed, possess high value, and may, by
proper management, be made to produce al
most every variety of crop. When there is
superabundance of vegetable matter on the
surface, the English method of "paring and
burning" may be economically adopted; but
such excess rarely exists, except in the case
of very deep bottoms, which are generally in
accessible, and which cannot be drained thor
oughly unless at great expense. On tho
broader bottoms the stratum of vegetable
earth is rarely Of greater depth than is requi-
site to form productive soil, aud by intro
ducing the subsoil plow, and mixing the uu-
der stratum with the organic mud Of the snr-
face, bed Of great depth and richness will
be secured, and one from which the most al-
fluent crops may be expected and secured for
years. On such lands we have known four
tons and a half Of hay to be cut per acre.
This, however, was at the North, where the
crop of grass is generally heavier than with
| us.