155 



much cash in improving land. I have also been one of three inspectors 

 of drainage who were appointed to award the Gold Medal of an Agri- 

 cultural Society, for " the greatest amount of drainage correctly per- 

 formed according to the principles of Smith, of Deanston." In this 

 tour of inspection a good opportunity was afforded for seeing a great 

 variety of drainage works. We found that a great many of the drains 

 had been injured by being left open too long, and from the effects of 

 heavy rain the sides had "caved in" and caused much injury to the 

 shape of the drains, j« well as trouble to the operators. 



In some cases the drains had been injured by the carelessness of the 

 workmen, who in filling them, hal thrown the stones against the sides 

 of the drains, and batterel down portions of cby, and when clay is 

 allowed to mix with the filiing-stones, draining is always imperfectly 

 done. 



Our instructions were to examine whether the drains had been judi- 

 ciously laid out according to the nature of the land. To see if they 

 were placed at ■proper and regular intervals, and to ascertain if the 

 stones or tiles, had been correctly laid down, the stones properly cov- 

 ered, and secured with sods before the clay was returned to the drains. 



The farmer to whom we awarded the Gold Medal, had care- 

 fully complied with all the regulations, and finished the drains in a 

 m^terly manner. He had a complete set of draining took of the 

 newest, and meet improved kinds, and took especial care to have mate- 

 rial for filling ready to be laid down in the drains, as fast as they were 

 opened and properly levelled. 



"When large tracts of land are to be drained the services of a civil 

 engineer, will be of much use in laying out the drains and securing a 

 proper outlet But a great deal of work can be performed bv the aid 

 of a very simple implement such as is represented in the following cut : 



This is a drain ^juage as well as a level, and by it the depth and 



