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Perhaps stones cannot be procured, and tile manufactories are too far 

 away. In such cases we must fill our drains with the best materials at 

 hand. I have seen the most scientific systems of drainage in operation 

 and I has'e marked their superior efficiency ; I have also seen a great 

 deal of good performed by very unscientific drains. 



The great object of every system of drainage is to remove excess of 

 moisture from land, and if we cannot perform this operation scientifi- 

 cally we must only do the best we can. 



I do not wish to say that drainage should be carried on to excess, or 

 to the neglect of other important farming business ; yet every farmer 

 should fully understand that his own health and that of his family, the 

 fertility of his land, and the productiveness of his crops, will be pre- 

 served, and increased by the removal of stagnant water. 



The following cuts represent rude drains which, in some cases, may 

 be of great use in removing water: 



Of these drains, Nos. 1 and 2, are intended to represent wedge 

 drains, into which a small tree has been pressed down, as far as it can 

 be driven. The space underneath is the water course. Drains such as 

 these may be useful in localities where wood is plenty, and other mate- 

 rials scarce, and if carefully covered, they may last a long time. No. 

 3, represents a wedge drain into which a sod has been tightly forced or 

 rammed down. The space underneath the sod answers the purpose of 

 an ordinary drain. The black patches in these drains represent tough 

 sods of green sward. 



There are many other kinds of temporary drains which may bo use- 

 ful to the farmer. Here are some of them : 



