On Draining. 263 



'I 



gravel, and clay and gravel mixed. Scarcely one place 

 could be distinguished where the water appeared to 

 spring up more than another : almost the whole swamp 

 seemed to be a seep. The water flowed off in a current 

 dowii the middle of the swamp. But no water passed 

 through it, except what sprung up in it. 



The first step with this ground, was, with a strong- 

 scythe to cut off the bushes. This measure, by afford- 

 ing a view^ of the whole flat of ground at once, gave a 

 better idea of the places where the drains ought to be 

 made. A drain quite round it was cut at the distance 

 of a rod, and in some places a little more from the fast 

 ground. This drain was three feet and one half wide 

 at top, and two feet and one half at bottom, and mostly 

 three feet deep. As the upper stratum so near to the 

 bank, was not so deep as farther in, this drain went 

 some depth, generally, into the clay or gravel below. 

 The sods and earth taken out, were thrown on the out- 

 side of the drain, to be spread on the rough, uneven 

 ground, between the bank and the drain, for the pur- 

 pose of levelling it. For cutting this drain, two spades 

 were used, of the common form, and made of the best 

 steel ; the one for cutting the extremely tough upper 

 spitt, was kept sharp as an ax. This was easily done, as 

 there was not the appearance of a stone in the whole 

 upper stratum. Thus far was accomplished in the latter 

 part of the season 1803. 



In 1804 it was evident more drains were necessary. 

 Accordingly one down the middle and two others pa- 

 rallel with it, (one on each side, and equally distant from 

 the middle and outside drains) were made. These 

 (liains were nearly of the same size as the first, but the 



