leas gives us a book on Farm-Drainage
which tells us that in England twenty millions of dollars have been
loaned by the government to be used in underdraining with tile!

We believe that Judge French has given the first practical guide in
draining to the American farmer,--indeed, the first book professing to
be a complete practical guide to the farmers of any country. His right
to speak is derived from successful experiments of his own, from a visit
to European agriculturists, and from a personal correspondence with the
best drainage-engineers of England and America, as well as from the
study of all available magazines and journals. No one could handle the
subject in a more pleasant and lucid style; flashes of wit, and even of
humor, are sparkling through every chapter, but they never divert the
mind of the reader from the main purpose of elucidating the subject of
deep drainage. The title-page does not promise so much as the book
performs; and we feel confident that its reputation will increase, as
our farmers begin to understand the true effects of deep drainage on
upland, and seek for a guide in the improvement of their farms.

The rain-tables, furnished by Dr. E. Hobbs, of Waltham, afford some very
interesting statistics, by which our climate may be definitely compared
with that of our mother country. In England, they have about 156 rainy
days _per annum_, and we but 56. In England, one inch in 24 hours is
considered a great rain; but in New England six inches and seven-eighths
(6.88) has been known to fall in 24 hours. In England, the annual fall
is about 21,--in New England, 42 inches. The experiments on the
retention of water by the soil are also interesting; showing that
ordinary arable soil is capable of holding nearly six inches of water in
every foot of soil.

Not the least valuable portion of the book is a brief discussion of some
of the legal questions connected with drainage; the rights of
land-owners in running waters, and in reference to the water in the
soil; the rights of mill-owners and water-power companies; and the
subject of flowage, by which so many thousand acres of valuable arable
land are ruined to support unprofitable manufacturing companies. The
rights of agriculturists, and the interests of agriculture, demand the
care of our governments, and the hearty aid of our scientific men; and
we are glad to find a judge who, at least when off the bench, speaks
sound words in their behalf.

Agricu