286 



THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 



I am of opiaiou that tbe pipe draius will last for a vast 

 number of years, probably fifty, or even for a mucb longer 

 perioJ. Thus durability is one of tbe great aJvautagea wbicb 

 pipes have over bushes, whins, or straw bands ; where I have 

 used such perishable substances as the latter, the drainage has 

 been renewed after eight or twelve years. Further, whilst the 

 pipes remain effective and tbe land yearlj- improves, the bush 

 draius gradually fall in : even after four years they become im- 

 paired, and gradually get worse, until renewed ; consequently 

 during the latter part of the term the laud has the disadvan- 

 tage of partial and imperfect drainage. Again, rats aud rab- 

 bits are great destroyers of bush drains ; aud I have one field 

 now, in which this description of drain is literally over-run with 

 rats. The difference in cost between bushes aud pipes I have 

 found to be about £2 Ss. per acre— £4 10s. for the pipe drain- 

 ing, and £2 5s. for the bush draining ; consequently the teiiaut 

 at will, or with a short lease, or of uncertain tenure, without a 

 covenant for the allowance of unexhausted improvements, or 

 without any direct assistance from his landlord in the draining, 

 adheres to the bush system, which answers his purpose ; nor 

 would a heavier outlay be prudent under the circumstances. 

 I have chiefly used the mole plough upon comparatively wet 

 pastures, and in every case it has answered well at the small 

 cost of 203. per acre ; and the drains have lasted eight years 

 (Hear). 



As to returns generally, I have found that drainige repays 

 the outlay, according to the amount of the first cost, in two, 

 three, or four years ; and sorry indeed should I be, to farm wet 

 clay laud without such a system of thorough drainage. The 

 advantage of drainage to the country at large is immense, and 

 the benefit might be vastly increased by enlightened covenants 

 between landlord and tenant. We want to ensure a larger ex- 

 tent of drainage, and of better quality. If a proprietor of clay 

 land, I should certainly make the drainage with pipe a matter 

 of arrangeraeut upon letting an occupation, and I know in the 

 course of years I should be greatly a gainer by the combined 

 investment (Hear, hear). 



I would here remark that I am in no way opposed to deep 

 drainage; I have found it answer in West Suffolk upon 

 springy land, upon gaults and gravels; but upon clays I 



am especially opposed to the expense, because depth does not 

 compensate for distance. 



In executing the work, I plough out the drain to one foot in 

 depth, and the drainers draw two spades of one foot each — 

 three teet. The items are : 



Eight score rods of digging at 48. 6d. .. .. £116 



2,500 pipes at 18s 2 5 



Expense of cartage, laying pipe, also drawing drains 9 



£4 10 



To recapitulate : We have considered the poverty and in- 

 fertility of undrained lands ; we have shown that drainage is 

 the foundation of all improvement, the precursor of many ad- 

 vantages, ensuriug a better return in grain and grass, allowing 

 of improved and extended root culture, and of an increased 

 profit from stock farming. I have recommended three-feet 

 pipe drains at sixteen-feet intervals as the cheapest and most 

 eflicient system for this neighbourhood, the expense to be shared 

 by the landlord, the pipe to be laid by a trustworthy person, 

 the directions of the drains to a certain angle to be with the 

 fall, larger pipes to be used on flat laud, the theodolite or 

 spirit level also to be used, water-furrows to be retained, that 

 the water enters the pipe at the bottom of the drain, the 

 drains and furrows not to be parallel; the superiority of pipes 

 over bushes ; the cost and probable durability of each system ; 

 the great advantage which has accrued to the country from 

 drainage, and the need of a better agreement between land- 

 lord aud tenant to ensure its more extended and more perfect 

 adoption. 



A long and interesting discussion ensued. 



The following resolution was then unanimously adopted. 



Resolved : — '' That underdrainsge at three feet deep and 

 sixteen-feet intervals is the moat effective and economical sys- 

 tem for the clay lands generally in the neighbourhood of 

 Halesworth ; that pipes are preferable, except on very flat 

 lauds ; that a fair proportion of the expense must be borne by 

 the landlord in connexion with the tenant." 



Thanks were then voted to Air. Bond and to the Chairman, 

 and the proceedings terminated. 



WETHERBY AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



The nineteenth annual exhibition of cattle, horses, sheep, 

 pigs, implements, &c., took place at Wetherby on Wednesday, 

 Sept. 30, and was the best show they ever had at Wetherby. 



The following were the prizes awarded : — 



Judges of horses— Mr. R. P. Hamilton, of Howsham, Brigg, 

 Lincolnshire ; Mr. W. S. Atkinson, of Barrowby Hall, Leeds ; 

 and Mr. Henry Sagar, of Burnley. 



Of shorthorns and pigs— Mr. J. Wood, of Stanwick Park, 

 Darlington ; and Mr. B. Wilson, of Brawith, Thirsk. 



Of sheep— Mr. R. Fisher, of Leckonfield, Beverley; aud 

 Mr. H. Makinder, of Langton Grange, Spilsby. 

 HORSES. 



Best stallion for agricultural purposes, £5, Mr. Robt. Fox, 

 Denton ; second, IMr. James Styan, Shipton. 



Brood mare for hunters, £2, Mr. Wm. Angas, Neswick, 

 Driffield; second, 10s., Mr. Wm. Gofton, Pockthorpe Hall. 

 Drillield. 



Brood mare for coach horses, £2, Mr. John Smith, Marton 

 Lodge, Bridlington; second, lOs,, Mr. Quinton Clark, Bilton. 



Brood mare for roadsters, £2, Mr. George Theakston, Wal- 

 ton; second, IQg., Mr. Richard Hare, Barrowby Grange. 



Brood mare for agricultural purposes, £2, Mr. John Skirrow, 

 Addlethorpe, Wetherby ; second, lOs., Mr. T. Acomb, Pop- 

 pletou. 



Three-year-old gelding for hunting, £2, Mr. Geo. Turner, 

 Sicklinghall ; second, lOs., Mr. Robert Dunn, North Ferriby. 

 Hull. " 



Two-year-old gelding for hunting, £2, Mr. S. Parker, 

 Plompton ; second, lOs., Mr. R. Hare, Barrowby Grange. 



Yearling colt for hunting, £1, Mr. G. Turner, Sicklinghall. 



Three-year-old filly for hunting, £2, Mr. Harcourt, Bolton 

 Percy ; second, 10s., Mr. Thomas Gilling, Upsall, Thirsk. 



Two-year-old filly for hunting, £2. Mr. Wm. Wright, Beck- 

 with House, Pannal; second, 10s., Mr. Thos. Beatley, Pannai 

 Hall. Yearliu? filly for hunting, £1, Mr. L. Walker, Scarcroft. 



Three-year-old gelding for coaching, £2, Mr. John Stoker, 

 Bickerton ; second, 10s., Mr. John Potter, Spofforth, Wetherby. 



Two-year-old gelding for coaching, £2, Mr. Richard Wad- 

 dington, Goldsbro'; second, lOs., Mr. W. K. Uoodbarne, 

 Ouaton llall, Tadcaster. 



Yearling colt for coaching, £1, Mr. W. Ridsdale. Rowlay. 



Three-year-old gelding for agriculture, £2, Mr. W. S- 

 Clougb, Eccup Grove; second, lOs,, Mr. Thos. Upton, Palia. 

 thorpe. 



