SAGADAHOC COUNTY SOCIETY. 121 



are reported as costing 70 cents to over $1 per rod, which is more 

 than many farmers can afford, and more than will (generally) /jay, 

 which is the true test of the expediency of draining as well as of 

 plowing or any other agricultural operation. It may pay to drain 

 land peculiarly situated, as near ones dwelling, at a cost of a $100 

 per acre or more ; but where tiles can be procured at fair prices, 

 good drains (better than any stone drains) ought to be made at a 

 cost of not more than 55 cents per rod under ordinary circumstan- 

 ces, and in the average of soils requiring drainage. The attempts 

 of beginners (especially if they use stone, or any thing except tiles) 

 usually cost 50 to 100 per cent, more than when made by skilled 

 workmen. (See J. H. Shedd's paper on excavation of trenches in 

 Report of Secretary for 1858, page 247.) 



Besides the draining of Mr. Dike already mentioned, he says : ■ 



" I also drained a piece of grass land three years ago, and the 

 crop has continued to increase every year since, with much less 

 dressing, than it received in previous years. Formerly the grass 

 winter killed ; but since the underdraining, I have no trouble of 

 this kind. The cost of underdraining depends very much upon 

 circumstances. My own has cost me more than a dollar per rod. 

 I think draining with tiles is cheaper than stones ; but wdien I 

 purchased my farm, I had a large quantity of stones suitable for 

 drains, and they were very much in the way above ground ; but 

 they are now nearly all below the reach of the plow, and I intend 

 to use tiles. I believe the farmer can make no better investment 

 on his farm every year, than a small sum, say $50, or more if he 

 has the means, spent in laying underdrains. Try an experiment 

 in a small way at first." 



