Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1884-01-16

is very cheap. it would be questionable
outlay. There is much land IN Vermont
that would be improved by drainage, that
cannot lie pro6tably drained. The ques.
ton whether it will pay depends upon the
value of the land before drainage, the
cost of the operation, and the value of the
land when drained. 1t also depends upon
the creps you wish to raise upon the land.
If you wish it for a vegetable or Hover
garden, to raise Indian corn or wheat
or for market garden. it would be
advisable to thoroughly underdrain it..
But for grass crop it would not pay the
outlay. 1t might be better 70 top dress
and keep it in a permanent grass crop.
In general, perhaps understanding may
be considered question of profit and
loss. A farmer who has money to leave
at per cent, !fhe can by undertaking
bis land cause it TO produce enough more
to pay him the interest on his investment
can afford 10 do it, rs his capital will be
safely invested in real estate.
! do not believe with the late Horace
Greeley that all lands that are cultivated
require draining. 1t will be long time
before the farmers of Vermont will invest
much money in draining gravel knows
| A'huSh vi tiiO itub III iile pill vi luC otht
is naturally drained, or so nearly dry
enough that it would never pay to
underdrain it. There are some meadows
that are too wet in spring and fall perhaps,
that produce heavy crops of grass annual
~. Boys and marshes must be drained
or not cultivated. Where u suitable
outfall can be secured It is profitable
investment. Slopes of hills. with a sub
soil near,y imperous TO water, and having
different strata, between which, the water
from the highland above works out and
saturales the soil, will be greatly benefit
ted by undertaking. The most OF my
draining has been on land of this descrip
ton An open ditch or Gatch-water was
made ut the upper part of the field to
prevent TIE surface water from above
flowing over it. The bitches were sunk
up and down in the direction of the
sleepest descent 80 inches deep, and about
two rods apart. Some of the drains were
laid with two inch sole tile, and the
remainder with stone found upon the
field. They have continued to discharge
water freely for 20 years, and | cannot
discover any material difference between
the tile and stone.
The drains upon these farms are con-
structed of stone, with Il board at the
bottom, and the drain, which is like
culvert is made large to prevent cloggi ing.
An open drain is better than none, but n
covered one is far better. Stones dumped
into Il ditch without making the culvert
are sure to clog soon and become worth
less. The first two crops more than paid
the whole expense of drainage, and have
since had a productive field, in place of a
nearly worthless one.
Messrs. j. h Gill, Spauding and Whit
ney of this town, who have done extern
svc works in drainage on their farms,
through which runs trout brook, on
three crops at most has paid them for the
entire cost of drainage. Some of the
land upon these farms was so wet and
soft that team could not be driven over it,
and the poor hly was carried off on poles.
1t is now comparatively dry, and among
the most productive land in town. In
stances of the good effects of drainage
upon crops might be multiplied but it is
unnecessary, it is generally conceded.
There is prose as well as poetry in under
draining. The rural poet may write in
flowing numbers of the beauties of drain
age, and laud the man who causes two
blades of grass to grow where but one
grew before. 1t is pleasant to talk and
write about Figures show it to be profit
able as well us philanthropic and poetical.
But when this flowery poet takes the
iniative of real labor, dons the short frock,
overalls and rubber boots, walks into the
ditch of mud with one foot stretched
before the other and there yields the
pick, or plies the spade from "early morn
till dewy eve" he will find the poetry of
drainage oozing out his finger ends, and
the whole subject will assume very
decided prosaic appearance; and unless he
can let the job TO some one who can dig
better then they can write, drainage, with
him, is among the things that were talked
ABBOTT.
Do not expect to drain your land
without solid hard work by somebody.
Use team and pillow to open down as far
as practicable. A man with a good team,
with a pillow, will loosen more dirt than
ten men can with picks; cover the drains
with "A team and scraper; provide your.
self with copy of some standard work on
drainage, and, if your work is extensive,
consult practical engineer. DO not be
deferred from improving your land by
it, but persevere, remembering that most
of the desirable ends of life are reached
by the free use of courage, muscle and
brains,
Mr.. Lane of Cornwall likes stones put
in loose for drainage. W. B. Rice thinks
they should be set archlng at bottom of
ditch and then filled in above. General
opinion was that on account OF moleS, tile
was the best.
EVENING.
The first hour was spent by DR.. Cutting
in answering questions upon various sub
ircts in IN acceptable manner. After the
questions he gave IN address upon "Fer-
tllizers and Fertilization, which was
listened to with great interest after which
Mr.. Goodwin made II few timely remarks
upon the same subject, and the meeting
was closed by some remarks by the chair
man, Mr. Hubbard. He said he was one
of the petitioners for the law that estab-
lished the present board and he was
proud of it, also of the ability of the
members and of its success. He knew it
was doing Il great and good work which
was generally appreciated by the people
and he wished them continued success
which he believed would attend them
The following resolutions were offered:
Resotued, That the thanks of the far.
mers OF Springfield are hereby rendered to
the gentlemen of the board of agriculture
for the valuable series of meetings now
about to close.
ResotUsd, That we offer our congratula.
tons on the distinguished success which
has thus far attended TIL il work for the
farmers of Vermont and our good wishes
for their personal welfare.
ReSolced, That our thanks are offered
to Mr. Smith and the other gentlemen for,
their valuable contributions to tho exor-
cses
The following articles were presented
for exhibition and We're most excellent
representatives OF the prod. cts of this
section: Wool of superior quality by
p II. Grimes and E. and F. l.. Piper,
Wilson's white wheat and 4 white winter
rye by l.. p. Warren of Perkinsville.
Some years ago number OF japanese