126 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



covered drain laid in 1842. For a few years it did well, 

 but for the last ten years it has been worthless. I think this 

 was caused by laying it too level, and not keeping the outlet 

 clear. 



Ten years ago I laid a few rods of covered drain in the field 

 which you saw, which has continued to do well, and the 

 benefit to that part of the field has been such as to induce 

 me to lay more. 



In December, 1857, I laid 17 rods of stone drain, about 

 four feet deep, laying stones at the bottom and flat stones for 

 covering, then put on pine boughs to prevent the dirt from 

 filling the water passage. This was done at a leisure time, 

 and in connection with other work, so that I cannot state 

 definitely how much labor was bestowed upon it. The stones 

 were upon the field, and had to be carted off, if not used in 

 this way. 



In May, 1858, I laid about 25 rods of drains, using cedar 

 poles at the bottom, and covering them with *a slab, leaving 

 an open space of about three inches for the water passage ; 

 then put in about eighteen inches of small stones. This 

 has continued to work well thus far. This was opened 

 by ploughing and scraping out two feet of the surface with 

 the ox shovel, and the bottom with a hand shovel. This 

 saves much hand labor, and when the team is not in use, I 

 think it much cheaper than to shovel it all out by hand. 



Last spring I laid about 27 rods of tile drain, using three- 

 inch tile, which cost $18 per thousand, the expense of teaming 

 and waste by breaking, making it cost about 25 cents per 

 rod ; the digging costs 25 cents per rod, and laying and 

 filling, 8 cents — making 58 cents per rod, at three feet deep. 



You ask how the water gets into the pipe. Theoretically, it 

 will come in through the pores of the tile ; but practically, I 

 think much of it gets in at the joints. When I laid my drain, 

 I had not seen Mr. French's book upon drainage, and I was 

 troubled to keep the bottom of the drain level enough to 

 have the tile fit close. I found I could lay them best by using 

 a small strip of board to lay them on, and small sods to cover 

 the joints. 



You ask at what distance apart the drains should be laid. 

 With me it has been an object to see how far apart I could 



