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Ditches or drains for this purpose are usually formed by 

 manual labor. Numerous machines have been used but with 

 little success. A more expeditious method may be adopted 

 by the use of the plow. A space for a drain should be laid 

 out of sufficient width to admit of two horses abreast. Fur- 

 rows may be thrown both ways so deep as it can conveni- 

 ently be plowed; after it is once gone over, the loose earth 

 maybe thrown out very speedily with a long shovel; the 

 plow may then be used again and until a sufficient depth 

 shall have been attained. In this way the labor of breaking 

 the earth can be done by horse power, which is certainly 

 preferable to breaking with a hand spade. 



Open ditches are commonly used more from necessity than 

 from choice, there being no material available with which a 

 permanent drain can be constructed ; the best material that 

 can be used is flat or flag stone, they serving to support the 

 earth, and are sufficiently open to admit of the passage of 

 water. This material however, cannot be obtained. Tile 

 might be substituted, but the expense renders them inaccessi- 

 ble to most farmers, consequently the presence of the un- 

 sightly open drains so common in our country must be used. 

 The only objection that can be offered to the utility of the 

 open drain (exclusive of appearance,) is the caving of the 

 banks forming them, though this difficulty may be overcome 

 by forming permanent banks of sod. Any farmer when 

 breaking sod can easily haul oft' quantities sufficient to for- 

 tify his ditches. Pieces may be cut of six inches in width 

 and any convenient length; commence by laying down the 

 first piece flat in the bottom of the ditch, and continue build- 

 ing on this foundation, until the entire bank is covered; care 

 being observed to break joints as in masonry. The grass 

 growing from the edges of the sods soon forms a covering 

 almost impregnable, which will ensure the banks against frost 

 or any changes of weather. 



We notice many ditches that are entirely iusufficient to 

 drain the ponds with which they are connected. This is of 



