Year: 1879

The remark is often heard that on q


prairie farm there is but little to do in


winter except to take care of stock and


keep up the fires. There is much that


might be done if one only would plan o


little; and among the many things we
will name ditching and draining Of the


low places on the farm. This can be done


by laying out the work this fall before the


ground is frozen, With plow run sew


eral furows along the line of the ditch,


ana throw the earth out to the depth of a


foot. A little straw thrown into it, or


hay, will keep it from freezing and the


balance of the work can be done at leisure


during the coldest weather. Csterns may


also be dug by commencing them in the


same way, and finishing at convenience;


and we know OF no more profitable invest


ment for family than this, which can be


done at this season with but little
cost. The value of such work on the farm


will add immensely to its comfort and ca.


pacity, especially the ditching. 81 know
Of no farm operations" said n recent


writer, from which have derived more


pleasure and profit than this. have
done little draining, and that at odd Jobs,


as had time to spare, without hiring ex-
ira help. The first was three years ago


last fall and the following spring, when
put in fourteen rods in an orchard near the
house, and there did my first plowing
last spring, and have raised early potatoes
this season. A part of this orchard was a
slight basin, in which the water stood un
til late in the spring, and after very great
rain in summer. 1t had not been plowed
for some twenty years, and the grass was
nearly run out by moss which covered the
ground, but drain three feet deep, and
filed with stones, has changed il into
dry, productive land, from which | have
taken good crops OF cucumbers, oats,
clover and potatoes, and have sown it to
turnlps after digging the early potatoes
this fall.


A year ago last spring put twenty.one
rods of stone dram, 3lS feet deep, there
by converting a very wet, heavy spot of
about one third Of an acre, which was
nearly surrounded by dry land in large
lot, into mellow, productive
soil, which is now neither too wet nor too
dry. Before draining, this spot was very
wet, and would only grow grass of very
poor quality, being full of ferns and but
tercup, and when plowed was very lumpy,
the principal crop being Roman worm
wood. The surface soil was dark vege-
table mold ten or twelve inches deep, so |
hare that pick would make but little
impression upon it, and under that a |
stratum of gravel full of water, which
worked out near by, and in spots this wit
ter came up through the hard.pan to the |
surface, where it escaped only by evapora-
ton. By digging through the hard-p
to the gravel, have drawn the water off |
below the surface, which is becoming |
very mellow and productive under cultiva.
tion, and produced, last year and this,
better crops than the naturally dry soil
it, and especially this season
mas it shown indications of great fertility.
1t is pleasure to work on such land after
,ne has reclaimed it. really enjoy going |
o the outlet occasionally to see the drain
discharge, while the surface is so dry and
mellow, and to think what it was before"