et coming as it does, after our work was mostly in
type, we confess to some feeling of satisfaction, at the substantial
coincidence of views entertained at the Albert Model Farm, with our own
humble teachings. With many thanks to Mr. Boyle for his valuable letter,
which we commend to our readers as a reliable exposition of the most
approved principles of land-draining for Ireland, we give the paper
entire:

ALBERT MODEL FARM, Glasnevin, Dublin,
January 31, 1859.

To the Hon. HENRY F. FRENCH, Exeter, N. H.:

SIR:--Your queries on land-drainage have been too long unanswered.
I have now great pleasure in sending you, herewith, my views on the
points noted. * * *

Pray excuse me for the delay in writing. I am, sir,

Your obliged and obedient servant, WILLIAM BOYLE.

LAND DRAINAGE--REPLIES TO QUERIES, ETC.

_Introductory observations._ Ireland contains close on to
twenty-one millions of acres, thirteen and a half millions of which
were returned as "arable land," in 1841. By "Arterial" and
thorough-drainage, &c., effected through loans granted by
government, the extent of arable land has been increased to fifteen
and a half millions of acres. The "Board of Works" has the
management of the funds granted for drainage and land improvements
generally, and competent inspectors are appointed to see that the
works are properly executed. The proprietor, or farmer, who obtains
a loan may, if competent, claim and obtain the appointment of
overseer on his own property, and thus have an opportunity of
economically expending the sum which he will have to repay
(principal and interest) by twenty-two installments. The average
cost of thorough-drainage, under the Board of Works, has been about
L5 per statute acre. In 1847, when government granted the first
loan for land-drainage, tiles were not so easily obtained as at
present, nor was tile-drainage well understood in this country; and
the greater part of the drains then made--and for some years
after--were either sewered with stones, formed into a conduit of
various dimensions, and covered over with finely-broken stones, or
the latter were filled into the bottom of the drain, to about one
foot in depth, as recommended by Smith, of De