tile is run up to this entrance and the tile passed in for packing. The floor of the interior is made of fire-brick and constructed like a grate, so that the flame, heat and smoke pass upward through the kiln. The tile are packed closely together, standing on end and nested; that is, the small tile are placed within those of larger diameter. Layer after layer of tile are placed on top of each other until the kiln is filled, when the entrance is built up with brick and plaster and the fires started. The fires, which are fed with either wood or coal, are kept low and allowed to smoke and smoulder until such moisture as remains in the tile after the atmospheric drying has been driven out; when this has been accomplished they are freely plied with fuel, and when a white heat has been reached, usually in about forty-eight hours, and discernible by means of small apertures in the sides of the kiln, the firing is complete and the fires are allowed to burn out.

The smoke, flame and heat pass up through the kiln, come into direct contact with the tile, and are then conducted by means of flues down to the base and into a smoke stack some thirty or forty feet high and built a few feet apart from the kiln. This arrangement allows of a more perfect combustion of fuel and more equal distribution of heat. After the fires have died out several days elapse before the kiln is opened, that the contents may cool gradually, as a sudden cooling would crack the tile. When taken from the kiln the tile are a bright red in color, with a metallic ring when struck, and almost as durable as time itself, inasmuch as there has been no product of man which has stood the test of time as firebaked clay.

The farm of Mr. Woolley, on which his factory is situated, is a fine example of the efficacy of tile drainage. Originally a wooded swamp, upon a large part of which water stood the whole year round, it is now one of the most productive farms in Franklin county. When Mr. Woolley first purchased this farm his friends doubted his sanity, others pitied his folly, but now none doubt his wisdom, and the tile factory, originally built for his own private uses, supplies the country for miles around and has converted what was formerly looked upon as waste land into about the most fertile in the county. "He who makes two blades of grass to grow where but one grew before is a benefactor to his race." How much more must one be "who makes two blades of grass to grow where none grew before."

That drainage is a benefit to low marshy lands is evident to the commonest understanding, but that it should be of any great value to land already surface dry is not very comprehensive to a very large proportion of our population.

The soil is the medium for the growth of plants, but does not in itself furnish all of the elements which develop their growth. Carbonic acid and ammonia, which are diffused in small quantities through the atmosphere, are brought down to the soil by rain. Upon undrained land these plant foods pass off with the surface water; on drained and porous soils they are absorbed. Drain the land and give these elements free access to the plants. When rain falls on elevated land it packs the surface of the soil, finds its way to its lowest level and, unless it can penetrate through the soil, runs off in streams and rivulets; the sun comes out, dries, then bakes and hardens the surface of the soil which the water has not penetrated because it could find no outlet beneath it.

To a certain degree we overcome this with the plow and harrow; but, in raising a crop on this land, the roots of the plants only penetrate to about the depth the plow has furrowed and only draw sustenance from that part of the soil. Let us drain this land. Now the rain falls, percolates through the soil and finds an outlet through the drain, the soil becomes porous like sponge and like a sponge holds a large part of the moisture, the sun shines again and, when the surface moisture has been absorbed, a fresh supply is drawn from the porous soil by capillary attraction, so that, instead of baking the surface, the soil is kept moist, is lifted by the capillary forces set into action by the sun and becomes mellow and easily worked. Less water has flowed from this land during the rain since it was

drained than before; a larger part of it remains in the soil, which has now become a reservoir from which to draw as the plants require. That this is the effect of drainage has been proven in every case where drainage has been tried.

In a valuable article on the "Philosophy of Tile Drainage" read by Mr. W. J. Chamberlin before the Ohio Tile Convention held at Columbus, Feb. 8, 1881, he thus summarizes the benefits of tile drainage:

1. Tile drainage deepens the soil, and gives the roots more feeding ground. 2. It helps pulverize the ground and thus to unlock its fertility so that the minute roots may drink it in.

3. It prevents surface wash and consequent and often great waste of fertility. 4. It dispenses with open ditches, which are not so good and are a great hindrance in cultivating and harvesting crops.

5. It lengthens the season of tillage and matures the crop before frost. It largely prevents winter-killing of wheat and the heaving of clover and other roots by frost.

6. It saves labor by making tillage and pulverization easier.

7. It supplies air to the roots and promotes the absorption of vapor and of fertilizing matters from the air and the rains and the snows.

8. It prevents the chilling effects from the thawing of ice and the evaporation of water, and in this and other ways warms the soil. Water warms rapidly when heat is applied from beneath, but very slowly when it is applied from above. Hence it is impossible for the sun from above to warm a saturated soil. (It has been ascertained by experiment in England that soil tile-drained is ten degrees warmer seven inches below the surface than the same kind of soil without drains.)

9. Drainage improves the quality as well as quantity of crops. Especially is this true of apples and of root crops like potatoes.

10. It is a great help in the harvest of corn, and especially of root crops in a wet fall. Without tile drainage, indeed, it is almost impossible on clayey soil. 11. It improves the health of crops and even prevents potato rot, which may occur on undrained soil.

12. It greatly improves the health of man and beast in many localities. 13. It greatly increases the crops, other things being equal.

14. But it should not be forgotten that tile-drainage is not needed on lands that have a gravel or porous sub-soil, and that even on soils that do need it drainage is only the basis for good farming, and will not pay unless followed by good farming."

THE STATE INSTITUTIONS AT COLUMBUS.

Asylum for the Insane-Institution for the Education of the Deaf and DumbInstitution for the Education of the Blind-Institution for the Education of Feeble-Minded Youth-The Ohio Penitentiary.

By the Constitution of the State the Legislature is authorized to provide at the public expense for the entire support of these varied benevolent institutions, and does not take cognizance of the pecuniary position of any of the inmates who are alike supported by the Commonwealth. Herein the insane or blind millionaire and the insane or blind pauper are on the same footing. It is on the same principle as with the Public Schools where education is universal and free to all alike, and because it tends to the moral and material progress of the whole body of the people.

The following historical and descriptive sketches were written for this work by Mr. CHARLES T. HOWE, after a visit to each institution for this object. They embody a large amount and variety of valuable information.