Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1868-08-20

heavy crops for many long years. Others
allege that where roots are Obliged to de-
scend deep for footing they must be depri-
we'd OF the influences of light and atmos-
phere, so important for fruit. Which
theory is correct, il is important
to know, and we can only learn
from such experiments. South of the gar
den is an orchard, the Oldest, which has
borne as much as 100 barrels of apples a
year. In front of these orchards and toward
Chappaqua is field of about 20 acres, as
level as prairie. When Mr.. Greeley took
possession it was an impossible swamp.
Along the foot of the hill alders grew thick
and high. and during many ages large guam
titles OF rock had fallen in among them. For
several years the work of reducing this
swamp has been going on. There are thou
sands of such swan,ps in the Eastern States
filled with deposits from decomposed rock,
and of leaf mold held in solution, and water
from many springs. Only here and there
have they been reclaimed for the expense is
great. The whole of this swamp has been
drained with tile and brook running across
is used for the general outlet. But when the
work had been done, and the reward of a
great outlay was looked for. it was found
that during wet seasons the whole net work
of tile was flooded with back water which
the surface soil absorbed, and the labor was
in vain. A new plan was adopted. A main
of G-inch tile was laid regardless of the creek
and into this the side drains entered. The
final outlet is into the creek at the lowest
end of the swamp and the result is every
way satisfactory, for the force of the current
of the creek below the outlet combined with
the pressure of water in the tile above, give
prompt clearance to the great body of tile
even when the water in the creek is some
thing higher than the outlet.
This work has been recently completed,
and the ground is drying rapidly. On a
portion corn was growing, but perhaps a
year or so will be required for the water
through the whole field to filter into the
drains, and for the atmosphere to act upon
the soil and correct its sourness. l have
seen nothing in the Eastern States so much
resembling the Wabash and American bot
toms as this field. The soil has the same
dark color, it is equally dry, and in one re-
spect it is decidedly superior, for il contains
sand sufficient to prevent packing or form
ing crust, and can conceive of no condi-
ton in which a hard subsoil can be formed.
The depth is about three feet, and the bot
tom is as good as the top. The sand in the
soil coming from decomposed primitive rock
gives, as il is generally understood, album
| dance of potash. Flowing can be done
when other fields are in the condition of
moratr beds. The original cost of the land
was $3.50 an acre, the improvements have
cost about 5000 an acre. 1t seems to me
that field more desirable for growing crops,
whether of roots, grain, or any description
of small fruits, is not to be found on this
continent.
To give expression to the ideas of others,
and to repeat what is known, is to be fol-
lower To seek out new ways, whatever
may be the obstacles, and to show how
bread may be found in places where Others
seek it in vain, is to be leader. If to him
his bread is dear, he is richly rewarded in
knowing that to Others he has made it
cheap. N. G. II.