If the tiles have been carefully laid, this form of draining is the most simple and effectual, and never fails to dry the ground of both surface and spring water, as it is impossible to miss-any spring, if the drains are run parallel all through the ground.

When stones are in the way, they may be used in the place of tiles,' but not otherwise, as the cost of carting and filling will be more than the cost of tiles; when used, they are sometimes, if of small size, filled in ten to twelve inches in depth, but, when the run of water is great, they are generally made by laying stones on each side, and covering with a fiat one on the top, then, filling over this six inches of small stones, which makes a capital drain; the cost, however, is double the expense of tile.

Where neither stone nor tiles are to be bad, brush is sometimes used, and, if well-packed and cut up, so that it will pack very close together, say eight to ten inches in depth, will run water very well, and last for a number of years, if the outlet is kept clear. Where grounds are extensive and rolling, and the grade falling off in different directions, it will be necessary, sometimes, on account of its level, to make more than one trunk drain, but, in whatever way the ground may be, the same system may be used to any extent,where labor is an object; and, for farming purposes, the digging might be nearly saved by using the plough and subsoil. I am satisfied that drains three feet deep may be all done with horses, except the bottom spit, which would require the spade; the filling-in of the earth can be done in the same way, and one-half the expense saved.

Draining is not necessary in all soils, but only in such as are of heavy clay, with a hard subsoil, or in wet, spongy grounds. Where the subsoil is gravelly and porous, and leaves no water on the surface after heavy rains in summer, draining is not required. I find that, on heavy soils, plants suffer much more from heavy rains in summer than in the winter, if undrained, there being no other way for it to dry but by evaporation, and, before this take's place, the water in the soil becomes putrid, particularly in warm weather; but, when this kind of ground is under-drained, the drains run out the water from below, and the surface dries rapidly by the sun, so that, in two days after the heaviest rain, the ground will be in working order.

Undrained grounds, again, in the winter and spring, are very injurious to the roots of trees, grass, and all kinds of grain, causing them to lift out of the ground with frost, and leaving the roots exposed, and (almost sure) a great part of them to perish.

Haying extended these notes on draining to a greater length than I intended, I will now close with a few brief remarks on the preparation of the soil.

The ground we will suppose to have been all under-drained, and all the grading and levelling that the ground requires to take out all the inequalities, to have been finished; this is better to be done before subsoiling than afterwards, which leaves all the ground of regular depth; if done afterwards, there would be some places not so deep as others. Then apply twenty cords of good barnyard manure, with two hundred bushels of air-slaked lime, spreading it regularly over the surface; this will make it ready for the plough and subsoil. To do this well, it requires a good, strong span of horses or cattle; but, when to be had conveniently, four would be better than two, particularly when the subsoil is hard. The best way to have this done well, is to make openings with the plough, by ploughing out the first furrows thirty feet apart; then commence with the subsoil plough firs! in the bottom of the open furrow, which will leave nothing undone, as would be the case if these furrows were not thoroughly opened;. with a good plough and subsoil, now keep going round, and working into this until a fair opening is made, which will be in the course of three or four rounds ) furrows ought not to be taken more than ten inches to a foot wide, to enable the subsoil plough to breakup the bottom well.

Half an acre a day for one team is quite enough, if the work is well and regularly done, which ought to be fifteen to sixteen inches deep; one span of horses will break up this depth. The first furrow to be made with the common plough, going round both sides; the subsoil plough being at hand, slip the horses on the subsoil, and follow round in the same furrow; this causes very little delay when once fairly commenced, but, when two teams are at hand, this of course would not be necessary; by continuing this fifteen feet on each side of the furrow, will finish a land, making it thirty feet wide; then commence again on the next, and so through the whole piece to be ploughed; the harrowing and levelling the ground afterwards completes the whole operation. It can then be laid out in whatever form or shape the proprietor may wish for a garden, fruit orchard, or a lawn; and, if the work has been thoroughly done, according to the directions here given, I have no hesitation in saying it will be in fit condition to grow any kind of crop; on grounds of limited dimensions, the spade may be used in place of the plough.

[This is all plain and practical. Mr. Reed's own nursery grounds are an evidence of success that we are always pleased with an opportunity of pointing out - Ed.] '

Remarks #1

The hardiness and vigor of fruit-trees are well known to be affected by the quality of the stock. It is possible, the properties of the fruit may also vary; but we consider that quite doubtful. Our friend's letter is, however, very suggestive. We cannot have too many experiments and observations. Divera into the deep sea of knowledge, we may bring something to the surface even more valuable than we anticipate.

Remarks #1

1st. Linnaeus has the credit of naming this plant, while, in the Botanical Magazine, t. 323, it is stated that "Cornutus" (Jacob Cor-nuti)," who first figured and described this plant, gave it the name of odoratus, on account of the very grateful fragrance of its foliage."If this is correct, then botanists ought to append "Cor." instead of "L.," who has honors enough, and needs not those of any other.

2d. It is not always erect. I have met with it much reclined. On the 20th of August last, while examining the flora of Duncan's Gap, Mifflin County, Pa., I met with it in abundance, being then both in flower and fruit. The shrubs were vigorous, the fruit large, and well flavored, to my taste. Pursh calls the flavor "very fine".

I can see no reason why the plant should not yield its fruit in our gardens, if planted in a damp soil of peat or bog earth, in a shady situation, especially when raised from the seed, and perhaps by crossing the flower with some of the hardy kinds of raspberries, a hybrid of considerable.value might be obtained from its seeds. It is certainly worthy of a fair trial, on account of its large, rose like flowers, as well as for the size of its fruit. I am aware that our Northern species, closely allied to this, have been unsuccessfully tried by English horticulturists, and, according to Loudon (who states that the R. odoratus was introduced into England in the year 1700), it would never yield its fruit.

The Arctic, or Dwarf Crimson (Rubus Arcticus), is exceedingly delicious, and grows in the wildest and most exposed districts of Lapland, Labrador, Rocky Mountains, Ac, often the only food found in those dreary regions. Linnaeus thus speaks of it, with much feeling: "I should be ungrateful towards this beneficent plant, which often, when I was almost prostrate with hunger and fatigue, restored me with the vinous nectar of its berries, did I not bestow on it a full description." The Cloud-berry (Rubus chamcemorus), growing in sphag-nous swamps throughout Arctic America from Greenland to Behring's Straits, Maine, White Mountains of New Hampshire, Ac, has a large, delicious fruit, composed of few and large carpels, ripe in August. Borne poet of the Shakspearian school, while speaking of those dreary lands, says truly: -

"Ever enduring snows, perpetual shades Of darkness, would congeal the living blood, Did not the Arctic tract spontaneous yield A cheering purple berry, big with wine".

Herein we have another evidence of the beneficence and goodness of God, so manifest in all His works and ways, by kindly supplying the wants of His creatures in all lands, and in every clime. Yours, truly, J. Stauffer.

Mount Jot, Pa.