draias, that, with a little experience, no one guided by them will be liable to commit serious errors.

It may be objected that we have not advocated any special system of underdraining that we have not adopted Elkington's, Smith's of Deanston, Josiah Parkes', Pusey's, Warncliffe's, Keythrope's, Barrall's, Wauer's, Shoenermark's Gropp's, Mollenkopf's, or any other special system; or that we have not introduced whole page engravings, exhibiting entire fields of underdrains, or introduced engravings representing Johnston's, Yeoman's, or some other farms as models. We have deemed it best to discuss simply the principles involved, and then let the reader apply the principles in practice as best suits his location and circumstances. We doubt very much whether twenty farms are drained precisely alike in any other respect than upon the general principles-the details necessarily differ in each according to soil, situation, finances, etc. We were induced to adopt this method when we learned the fact that, so far as crops are concerned, underdrains with the mole plows, where the nature of the soil would permit, produced the same effects that the system of frequent or thorough drains advocated by Gisborne and Parkes did. The advantage of tile drains over the mole plow, consists in this, viz: tile drains can be made in all soils; are made with greater regard to precision; are permanent; while the mole plow drains can be made in clay soil only; are, from their manner of construction, unavoidably subject to irregularities; and what is more than all, are merely temporary expedients. But the physical conditions of the soil are rendered the same; and the increased productiveness is the same, whether made by the mole plow or laid with tile.

With systems differing so greatly in their details as pipe tile and the mole plow, and yet producing the same results, and involving the same general principles, it appeared to us like unmitigated prejudice to be partial to the details of one system and exclude all others, especially when we are fully aware that innovations, changes, and differences of detail are introduced by almost every one who undertakes to drain any considerable. amount.

We would address ourselves particularly to the young men of the West, and suggest to them that it would not only be well, but honorable and profitable, for them to qualify shemselves to take charge of drainage works on farms; that is, to examine the grounds, determine the proper depth and position of drains, and advise as to the best method of making them. Judging from the tenor of many letters addressed to the writer in his official capacity, making inquiries respecting "drainage engineers," he is convinced that in a few years those who qualify themselves for the position will have much better cause for congratulation than those who enter the ranks of professional life. Drainage will soon become a new

field of industry, which will demand more engineers than the railways have done, more surveyors than the western wilderness. It is a field in which thousands and tens of thousands will find employment, and will go on increasing until the greater portion of the whole North American continent will be underdrained.

Let young men of the present and "rising generation" turn aside from the overcrowded ranks of professional life-from the fascinations of the mercantile avocation, or the dazzling speculations of commercial enterprises-and become promoters of the productiveness of the soil.

MOLE PLOWS IN MADISON COUNTY.

FRIEND KLIPPART: I have delayed writing you longer than I anticipated, waiting for information from two parties-patentees-that I could not see on "sale" day. However, I give you what I have correctly obtained, allowing from best data at hand for totals; I will keep estimates within bounds, at least.

First Resident Patentees of our County, in the order in which they were issued.

1st. Adam Defenbaugh, London, (probably winter 1857.)

2d. M ses Bales, London, probably 1858.

3d. A. Watson, Loudon, February 8, 1859.

4th. Withrow & Co., London, April 19, 1859.

5th. Hussey & Thornburg, London, about July, 1860.

6th. Thos. Rickerds, London, about July, 1860.

7th. Improvement to Withrow & Co.'s arrangement of lever to raise out of ground for moving, Feb 1, 1860.

8th. A. Watson, London, Feb. 28, 1860, having ousted

Miller, of

Union county, who had received patent for "cement lining" apparatus, received patent as above.

This comprises the patents of our residents; but the first machine used in our county was that of Marcus & Emerson, now owned by Wright Straley, Jeffersonville, Fayette county; and the second the Cole & Wall machine, owned by Cook, Anderson & Co., White Oak, Fayette county.

Prices of machines, with actual and probable number of rods of drain completed by each.

Withrow & Co., $125; given 4,000.

Hussey & Thornburg, probably $100 to $110; unknown.
Rickerds,

66

7th, price $150, and 8th $125, but little done with either.

Marcus & Emerson, price about $125 to $30; 7,000.

Much drainage has been completed in the northern and southern portions of the county, but the amount is unknown. From my own knowlege and the infor. mation gleaned from others better informed, it is estimated that at least one hundred miles of the various kinds of "mole drains" are now in operation in this county; the oldest of which, made nearly three years since, are said to be discharging more freely than when first "put in."

One of our most successful agriculturists, Mr. Robert Armstrong, near this place, has "put in," within the past two and a half years, with a "Marcus & Emerson," on his prairie farm, black loam, rich, but inclined to hold water on account of little fall, containing some 1,250 acres, woods and clearea, over 6,000 rods, some 20 miles. I am advised that the drains are doing finely, not "filling," but discharging freely and abundantly.

Another farmer, in same neighborhood, one of the patentees of the Withrow & Co. machine, Mr. Washington Withrow, on a farm of some 600 to 700 acres, with a gravelly, calcareous top and subsoil, has put in within about the same as Mr. Armstrong, first with a Defenbaugh, and latterly with his own manufacture, over 2,000 rods, say six and a half miles. He informs me that all are doing well, without an exception. Has made some 80 rods this winter, which is running finely.

Mr. Withrow thinks there is but little danger to be apprehended from "fills or "stoppages" of any kind. Exampled, a drain made in a place formerly occupied by a fence, which caused the soil to remain quite loose; as a consequence, from, probably, "mole holes" to surface, the water passed directly into the drain from the surface, and continued to "cave" or fall in until several feet had fallen down continuously. He was about to make a new drain, thinking the first one "filled up," but delayed until a rain. To his surprise-the fall being considerable --the water washed out all the accumulations from the top, and still continues to discharge well.

The general opinion of our farmers who have experimented most is at variance with the testimony of Mr. Trimble, of Highland, as given in a late number of the Ohio Farmer, concerning the amounts of fall. Our men say "the more fall the

better;

that is, that our level savannas will not allow the benefits of more fal l than is best, or necessary, to insure continued or successful discharges.

To review, then :

Seven distinct and separate issues of "mole plow" patents to residents of our county; one improvement of "hoisting apparatus" to one of 7; two patents of Illinois inventors used in county; in all, ten.

Drainage in successful operation, 100 miles.

Most of these inventions of our citizens have been introduced in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, and other States, and have there been sold to a greater extent than here. I find that I have neglected to give you the number of the various machines manufactured; I add so far as reported:

Defenbaugh, sold and manufactured in Illinois.

Watson, three in use here; six shipped; several companies in Iowa use them. Withrow & Co., eight in use here; seven shipped; several used by companies in Iowa and Illinois. Others not known.

IRVING F. WILLIS.

DRAINAGE FUND IN FRANCE.

In order to encourage drainage, and to have the work properly performed, the government of France has established a fund of $20,000,000, or one hundred million francs, to be loaned to land owners upon certain conditions.

The following, translated from the Journal d' Agriculture Pratique, will, perhaps, convey a better idea of the nature and conditions of the loan:

(Foncier.)

CREDIT ON LANDS IN FRance.

Loans on drainage works refunded in twenty-five yearly annuities. Laws of 1856 and 1859.

The calls for loans are to be written on stamped paper, accompanied with an extract from the plat of the land survey office, and sent to the Minister of Public Works, who causes his engrossers to investigate the usef lness and cost of the undertaking; if this be found advisable, the vouchers are sent to the office of the Credit Foncier. There an enquiry is made as to the land title and mortgages on the estate; when the situation presents sufficient security, the Minister orders the

loan to be made, establishes the conditions thereof, and prescribes the time when the work must be made and finished. Then the Credit Foncier and the borrower

make a legal contract.

CONDITIONS.-Extract from the law of February 17, 1856, articles 5 and 7:

The loan is to be paid in money. The amount shall be given to the borrower, in successive installments, at the appointed periods, in proportion as the works proceed, on the statement of the appointed engineer, so that the residue shall be paid only when the works are completed.

The loan is made for 25 years' duration. The borrower has the right to pay back in advance, either part or the whole.

The payment of the annuities is to be made in the same manner with public taxes. The terms of payments are to be determined in the loan contract.

COST--(Public Regulations, Art. 10th.-The Minister of Public Works is to defray the expenses of enquiry and superintendence of the works; all others at that of the borrower.

PAYMENT OF ANNUITIES.--The annuity to be paid during 25 years amounts to 6.41 per cent.; it comprises:

VOUCHERS TO BE PRODUCED.-Any land owner, asking for a loan for drainage, is required to exhibit :

1st. The titles to his estate, both in his name and that of his predecessors.

ed The extract of his civil state, stating whether he be married, a guardian, or a keeper of public money; also his contract of marriage and the act of celebration thereof, according to the law of July 10th, 1850.

3d. A certificate from the Recorder's office, showing his mortgage situation.