3O0 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



cut a cavity iu the bottom of the ditch to exactly fit the tiles that are being 

 laid. The channel should be cut deep enough to firmly embed the tiles in 

 their places. And with the same implement the workman may rim the inside 

 corners of the tiles, and remove the ragged edge that is objectionable. He will 

 then proceed with his work, backing down stream, cutting the trench and 

 laying the slight curve that is usually found in tiles, on the side, and reversing 

 the next at the other side ; this gives a good fit at the ends of the tiles, and 

 leaves the bottom level. Where the joints do not make a perfect fit, a covering 

 of white oak or cedar shavings, or tarred paper, may be used to prevent dirt 

 from washing into the joints. 



The soil should then be firmly packed around the tiles, using the subsoil 

 first. The packing of the soil a foot or two over the tiles should be thorough, 

 but never done when the soil is in a wet condition. Covering tiles with straw 

 and loosely shoveling in the soil until the ditch is full, I find by experience, to 

 be very objectionable, as the straw will soon decay, leaving fine particles to 

 wash into the drain, and leaving a channel at the sides of the drain for the 

 mice and water to make havoc with the tile bed. 



There are many things in a general way, or in detail, concerning under 

 draining that perhaps might have been more profitably mentioned here, but 

 if what has been said provokes discussion, and draws out any information, or 

 stimulates action in the way of under-draining, this hastily written article will 

 not have been written in vain. 



FARM DRAIXAGE. 



BY S. B. CANNON". 

 [Read at Armada Institute.] 



Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen : Doubtless there is no subject 

 that will be discussed at this Institute that is of more vital importance to the 

 agricultural interests "of this county, than the subject assigned us to open a 

 discussion upon, viz. : "Farm Drainage." And we only regret that the duty 

 of opening the discussion had not been assigned to some individual of larger 

 experience. 



Our county lies in a belt of country where the rainfall amounts to about 

 forty inches during eight months of that portion of the year when we have 

 more or less rain, viz. : March, April, May, June, July, August, September, 

 October, and November. 



The majority of the lands in this county are what would be termed level or 

 flat surface, with streams and ravines sufficiently numerous to carry off the 

 water from excessive rainfalls or melting snows, still sufficiently flat to retain 

 a vast amount of water until it is taken up by the slow process of evaporation. 

 Now if this rainfall could, by any definite law of exactness, be so distributed 

 in quantity and time as to meet the necessities of the case for the time being, 

 there might be less necessity for artificial drainage; but the opposite are the 

 facts, so the only thing for the successful agriculturist to do is, like a good 

 general in the army, prepare for the emergency while he may. 



