DRAINAGE | 29 
soils produce better crops in wet or dry seasons than the 
undrained soils, and experience has also shown that worn 
soils cannot be reclaimed until they are first well ditched. 
In the light of this experience, I cannot too strongly 
impress upon my readers that we must first thoroughly 
drain our soils if we would build them up to a fertile 
stage. 
All drains should be so constructed as to be open at 
both ends, as a drain so constructed will act like a chim- 
ney; the air will go into one end and out the other, and 
the air thus passing through the drain in dry weather is 
condensed into moisture, which is thrown out into the 
soil, made porous by drain construction, and thus fur- 
nishes moisture to the plant roots. 
The source of all drains should terminate in some 
fence row close to the fence, the tile brought up to the 
surface of the ground and properly screened to prevent 
animals, weeds, sticks, or foreign substances from enter- 
ing the drain. 
The mouth of drains should be kept open at all times 
and screened in the same manner. Such a ditch is the 
most valuable asset on the farm. 
Drains should be constructed of not less than six-inch 
tile, and need not ordinarily exceed four feet in depth, 
but no fixed rule as to depth of drain can be given, as 
the undulating character of the soil and the outlet must 
govern the depth. Where lands are too deeply tiled 
there is likely to be a waste of water. 
In constructing drains, the idea of soil ventilation must 
be kept in mind, so it does not matter in all cases whether 
