88 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



the joinings l>eing covered with a piece of sod inverted, or shav- 

 ings and stira^r, to keep out bits of earth while being filled in» 

 Great care should be taken that the bottom be smooth and of 

 a true inclination, so tliat water can run in it without ob- 

 struction, for as has been well said, " the worst laid tile is the 

 measure of the goodness and permanence of the whole drai?if 

 just as the weakest link of a chain is the measure of its 

 strength." 



As to depth, our preference j^ for four feet, as not only bet- 

 ter, but as draining a wider space, properly, than thr«e feet, in 

 proportion to its cost. If we go deeper than four, the cost 

 increases too rapidly, although they arc probably o-f more effi- 

 cacy in many instances. 



One objection to two and a half and throe feet drains is 

 much the same as might be made to five inch ploughing where 

 the ground had only been scratched an inch or two in depth 

 before; it would be very likely that the operator might be sat- 

 isfied with the results, whereas- he ought to, and might easily 

 do much better still. As to the distance between drains, fifteen 

 feet may be as suitable in stiff clays as thirty or forty in those 

 less retentive ; in tliis and many other points pertaining to its 

 practice, a sound discretion is to be exereised, and in case of 

 extensive operations by a beginner, the assistance of some ono 

 who has experimentally investigated the whole subject should be 

 secured. * 



Although drainage is so generally neglected, we have in the^ 

 State some instances of judicious and thorough work, one of 

 the most extensive of which, within my knowledge, is ujion the 

 farm of B, F. Nouvse, Esq., of Orrington, about six miles from 

 Bangor. During the past season a committee from the Bangor 

 Horticultural Society visited his farm for tlie purpose of inquire 

 iiig into, and reporting upon his modes of operation, and their 

 results. Having been present by invitation, at this visit, it is 

 with the greater pleasure that I annex their report, which is as 

 follows : 



*"Miinn's Practfcal Land Drainer," published Iiy C. AT. Sa.xton & Co., Now York, price fifty 

 cents, will be found of value to the novice, both as to the theor>' of draining and the details of its 

 practice. In England there are those who make draining a profession, i. e., draining encineers. 

 Let there he a demand for the soivicos of such here, and they will ere long be found among us.. 



