There is, undoubtedly, an advantage gained from perfect drainage in all soils, but those of a close, retentive character are the most benefited. Where the land is rolling, and surface-draining can be easily had, the necessity for under-draining is not so great as where the land lays nearly level. In our experience with trees, raspberries, etc, however, we have found surface-draining during winter and spring essential, even on the best of under-drained ground. This we do by plowing or earthing up ridges toward our trees and plants, and we do not plow them down again until near the month of June, or not until all prospect of heavy spring rains are over. Many persons desire to drain, but under the impression that tile is requisite; and as tile costs more than they feel able to expend, the work of improvement is postponed from year to year. For many years we have laid more or less yearly of drains, and have tried many materials, using tile, stones, both flat and round, brush, and bricks; and while all have worked well, we are strongly disposed to favor brush drains, and especially where the land is quite level or in any way of a mucky nature, or where quicksand is reached in the deepening of the ditch for the laying of material.

We have found a deep drain, with brush laid in, always with the butts of the brush resting on the bottom, even if there is but a slight fall for the water to run off, to prove more satisfactory than one of tile. The flow of water over the whole surface of the ground, even though it rest there twenty-four hours in spring, we have found no injury, but rather a benefit. Grapes, strawberries, raspberries, etc., we have had flooded in open spells of weather in winter and again in early spring, and while some of our friends have regarded the plants as lost, we have lost none, but rather have gained in vigor of growth afterward. Our object in writing this is, that during this and the coming two months, time can almost always be found for putting in more or less of drains, and while many men may not have command of tile, nearly all can obtain brush from the forest for the hauling. Open ditches for taking the water from the under-drains are not as objectionable as some writers would have us believe. If they acre made wide, say six or seven feet at top, and the sides sloped evenly, then sown with grass-seed so as to hold them firmly, they can easily be mown, and so kept clean and free; and if trees are planted along on the bank each side at appropriate distances, no ground need be lost.

In making brush drains, trample the brush firm before filling on the soil, and at the outlets secure three or four feet with stones.

Draining #1

It is an open question in this country if we should drain pots or not. We can only say both are right; certainly it is waste of time and loss of pot room to occupy space with crooks or charcoal in pots less than seven inches in diameter in which plants will re-main but a few months, but it is equally waste of time to expect first rate results with large specimen plants, probably to remain in the same pot for years. We say nothing about such plants as Orchids; it would be absurd, and do not suppose the most thorough antidrainers would expect to grow these plants without drainage. We reserve all the broken flower pots to use for this purpose, and although we often have great waste in that respect, both from bad packing of new pots received, and also in plants received as well, besides breakage from some maker's pots which receive such a slight burning that when soaked with water they fall to pieces when handled from their own weight; this fault can be partially referred to the old theory that it was impossible to grow plants satisfactorily in a hard pot.

We have grown at least as good plants in glazed pots and also in pots made of glass as in the usual make of pots, which proved to our satisfaction that soft pots were both unnecessary and unsatisfactory, and in large sized specimens very unsafe from liability to break when lifted, and probably break the plants at the same time, from falling to the floor.