15 Oct., 1919.] 



Pear Growing in Victoria. 



595 



the tiles are placed closely together at the right grade along the line 

 of drainage, the ditch should be filled in without delay, care being taken 

 not to displace the tiles in any way. The heavier soil should be placed 

 directly upon the tiles, which must be well packed to prevent their 

 shifting from their position, and also to prevent any passage for water 

 being formed outside the tiles. 



Other Kinds of Underground Drains, 



Although tile drains are, generally speaking, the most satisfactory, 

 good results may also be obtained from drains made of wood and also 

 of stone. 



In the case of a wood drain, ordinary stringy-bark {Eucalyptus 

 macrorrhyncha) , if well matured, will prove durable. An instance of 

 the durability of this wood came under the writer's notice some time 

 ago. When the railway line to Hurstbridge was made, it passed through 



Plate 25. -Grading board, set for grade of | inch in 10 feet. 



Mrs. R. Sharp's orchard at the place mentioned, and in making the ex- 

 cavation for the line, several wood drains were cut through. These were 

 made over twenty years ago, and the wood used in the drains now 

 protruding through the banks of the cutting, is still in a good state of 

 preservation. When obtaining wood for the purpose of draining, trees 

 about 12 or 15 inches in diameter should be selected, cut into lengths 

 of about 6 feet, the bark stripped, and each log split into four pieces. 



Three or four layers of these lengths of wood should be placed in 

 the bottom of the ditch, overlapping each other about 18 inches, covered 

 with bark, brushwood, &c., and filled in as in the case of the tile drain. 

 Saplings or immature wood should not be used for the purpose. When 

 stones are used, they should be broken into pieces of about 4 inches in 

 diameter, and a layer of these, about 9 or 12 inches in thickness, placed 

 in the bottom of ditch, and topped with smaller stones. 



• 

 (To he continued.) 



