1 8 ©4' ^'^ Draining. ^>J^ 



The mode of draining I would propofe, may, in the firfl in- 

 ftance, be moft expenfive; yet if it lliall be mod efle£lual, at- 

 tended with lefs trouble and expence afterwards, and its efFe£ls 

 permanent, a complete reimburfement will be made in a few 

 years, and the advantages likewife permanent. 



In the Jiijf place, let us fuppofe a piece of low wet land, con- 

 fifting of a few acres. If it has any inclination, it is obvious 

 the drain mult be formed on that fide which is lowed ; always 

 fuppofing, however, that the fituation of the ground is fuch as 

 to admit the water to be conveyed aw;iy into fome other drain 

 or brook. But probably I ihall be as well underftood, by fup- 

 pofing a ditch has been already drawn in the old form, alongft 

 the lowed ficirt of fuch a piece of land. In the fummer feafon, 

 then, as foon as the piece of ground is fo dry as to admit of it, 



1 would begin at 8 or do feet didance from the fide of the ditch, 

 and pare off the earth, Hoping it down gradually to the depth of 



2 feet or 2\ feet at the brink of the ditch; and fuppofing the 

 ditch to be 3 feet or 3^ feet deep, the remaining foot may be left 

 to contain the ordinary water. The earth thus pared off mud 

 be carted into hollow places (if there are any) in the field. It 

 the furface is even, it mud be laid on (as far as it goes) thicker 

 and thicker the farther from the drain, to mcreafe the acclivity ; 

 and in fo far as it does this, it is manifedly of the greated ad- 

 vantage. After having proceeded this way alongd the whole 

 courfe of the ditch, it is then fmilhed, in fo far as it is intended 

 only for a drain. In ploughing, it certainly will occur to every- 

 one, that the ridges mud on no account be drawn parallel to the 

 ditch, but at right angles with it, the ends of the ridges termi- 

 nating precifely at that part where, in paring off the earth, the 

 declivity begins. By this means, the water has not only a free 

 and immediate defcent from the furrows into the ditch, but the 

 water drains more freely from the ridge itfelf, when ploughed 

 in that direction, than when ploughed acrofs the defceot. 



Sn-oridi\j vSuppofing a field perfetSbly level, or having a fmall 

 defcent on any two of its oppofite fides. In either cafe, a ditch 

 or drain ought to be made on each of thefe fides, and the e^rth 

 taken out of them difpofed of, as before directed, by fpreading 

 it over the middle of the field. And as every advantage ought 

 to be taken to heighten the furface i in the fird ploughing, the 

 whole field fliould be gathered up iwto one ridge, parallel with 

 tiie drains ; which may be repeated every time the land is broke 

 up after grafs, and then ploughed acrofs, between drain and 

 drain, for fowing. The declining border, which diould form 

 the head-ridge, ought never to be ploughed. But it is not thercr 

 fpre \oi\. U may be prepared and laid down the fird year with 



ry€- 



