UNDERDRAIXING AND DEEP TILLAGE. 133 



Unclerclrains are constructed in various ways, in all of ■which exca- 

 vation is the principal cost. The great object in economical drainage, 

 is to lessen the expense, and at the same time obtain a good and 

 safe conduit; but this should never be done at the sacrifice of proper 

 depth. What is proper depth is a question which has been long and 

 earnestly contested. Volumes have been written by the advocates 

 of deep and shallow drains, until the subject has been exhausted. 

 In brief, it may be said that the result of much investigation and 

 experience is, that four feet is the proper depth in most cases. 

 Three and a half, or even three feet, may be admissible in stiff clays, 

 but the drains have to be proportionably nearer together, while in 

 soils of a loose texture they may be made deeper and farther asun- 

 der. In stiff clays, they should be not more than two or three rods 

 apart, and if nearer, all the better. In soils of more open texture, 

 tliree or four rods serve a good purpose. In every case, it must be 

 borne in mind that we make a permanent investment, when we make 

 a drain of the right character. It is not merely work for one year, 

 or one crop, that we enter upon when we e.xcavate tlie soil and place 

 in it a good drain. On the other hand, it is for a constantly increas- 

 ing advantage to our land, and must not be considered a temporary 

 affair. But shallow drains and half made drains are temporary, and 

 it is only deep draining, skilfully executed, that lasts and satisfac- 

 torily performs its vrork. Let this be considered by every farmer, 

 before he lays out his plans for his drains : let him be lar-sighted 

 enough to lay his drains of sufficient depth, and to do the viovkwell. 

 If the undertaking be an extensive one, he will do well to have the 

 services of a draining engineer to take the levels, to lay the plans 

 and get the work well started. The economy of so duing can not be 

 doubted. The writer has known of some ludicrous mistakes from 

 lack of knowing the true levels and having a good plan beforehand. 

 In one where the drains were commenced, and some progress was 

 made before the levels were taken, it was afterwards found that the 

 descent was in a direction opposite to what the owner supposed, 

 judging by his eye. Drains can be laid where the descent is not 

 more than four inches in a hundred feet, or even less; but of course 

 sucli require great care to secure accurate grading. 



Large portions of our State are seriously encumbered with stones 

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