PRACTICAL NOTES ON UNDERDRAINING. Bot 
manner of placing the stenes the water cannot undermine them; neither can a 
stream wash out a passage behind them. In case the stream should wash away the 
earth to such an extent that the side stones must settle, more or less, they will still 
retain the desired position, and continue to drop directly downward, the covering 
stone holding them just as they were originally placed. After the covering stone is 
laid, every large cavity should be filled with smaller stones, and the surface be 
leveled otf with numerous small stones all laid with care, so that the earth cannot 
work down into the water-course. A great many small stones, not larger than hens’ 
eggs, should be employed to #il the interstices, so that the water-course may not be 
obstructed, as otherwise the passage for water is very liable to be completely clogged 
with earth. 
Fiiling ditches with poles and flat stones.—In the year 1843 a large open ditch was filled 
by laying round poles on each side and covering them with flat stones, as represented 
by Fig. 24. Flat stones were scarce, and could not be obtained within’a distance of 
three miles. The poles were chiefly white and red beech, laid in the ditch the same 
day they were cut, and were usually about four to five inches in diameter. The 
bottom of the ditch was about fourteen inches wide. All the joints between the stones 
were covered with thin, small pieces of flat stones. That drain has never, up to the 
present time, failed to deliver a large stream of water, and to drain the soil thoroughly 
on each side of it. It was not expected that those green poles would last ten years. 
If such perishable timber as white beech will last in a ditch twenty-seven years, surely 
cedar and other durable timber will endure a life-time. Poles will last much longer if 
the timber be thoroughly seasoned before being laid in the ground. If small boulders, 
or even hard-burned bricks, could be substituted for poles, they would be far prefer- 
able to wood. 
Filling ditches with rails or poles—This mode of filling ditches is noticed chiefly to 
point out the defect incident to the use of such materials for making a water-course. 
Fig. 25 represents a ditch filled with poles, one being laid in each corner of 
the ditch, with a third covering the space between the two. On account of the want 
of uniformity in size and shape of the poles, it is difficult to make a satisfactory water- 
course, unless the pieces are first sawed into short lengths of two or three feet. It will 
always be found difficult to make the top poles or rails fit Gown to the surface of the 
side poles sufliciently close to prevent mice from hauling the earth into the water- 
course. Unless the poles are unusually straight and of uniform size, there will be a 
large opening every few feet through which loose earth will fall and soon obstruct the 
water. If one pole be large and another small, it will be quite impracticable to put 
on a cover “dirt tight,” unless the covering pieces are first sawed of suitable length to 
be laid crosswise. By preparing the covering in this manner, rails or poles can be 
advantageously employed. Rails of durable timber may be sawed up, say ten inches 
long, and laid crosswise on the side rails, thus filling a ditch in a very economical 
mapner where timber is cheap. If poles are employed, let them be sawed of the 
desired length, then split in two equal parts, and thoroughly seasoned before being 
laid, and it will be found that timber will render excellent service for an age. 
Slabs from timber-logs sometimes make an excellent covering in wood drains. They 
should first be sawed of the desired length, the edges cut off straight, so that the 
pieces will make dirt-tight joints, and after they are seasoned the pieces are used for 
filling ditches. The bark side is always laid up. If the bark does not peel off readily, 
the pieces should be laid in the ditch with the bark on. Some men of extensive expe- 
rience contend that timber, when buried a foot or more beneath the surface of the 
ground, will be more durable if the bark is not removed. 
Filling ditches with planks.—In many localities suitable stones cannot be obtaimed for 
filling a large ditch, except at a distance of several miles, and at a much greater 
expense than most tillers of the soil are willing to incur, while durable timber may be 
so abundant that planks will constitute the cheapest material which can be employed 
for making the water-course. The writer once made one in this way: The ditches were 
cut ten inches wide at the bottom, and the corners were dressed out true and square, so 
that a piece of scantling would fit closely without falling over toward the middle. 
After the bottom was well graded, a channel, as represented by D, (Fig. 26,) was cut 
in the bottom about five inches deep by four or five inches wide. After the channel was 
formed, pieces of scantling two inches square, or two by three inches, were laid in the 
corners of the ditch, and pieces of plauk ten inches long were laid on these side- 
pieces. In some instances side-pieces two by four inches were employed. . The object 
of the channel in the middle of the ditch is to keep the stream of water midway be- 
tween the side-pieces, and thus prevent the stream from undermining the sides; also 
to increase the capacity of the drain. The side-pieces will sustain the planks and 
keep the channel open, even if the water were to wash away the earth; but by direct- 
ing the water, at the outset, in a channel, the banks will soon be smaothed over, so 
that the earth will not wash away, except in sandy soils. Many hundred rods were 
made by simply laying the pieces of plank directly on the banks of the channel in > 
the bottom of the ditch, as represented by Figure 27. Yet, planks were never_laid on 
