54 PRACTICAL GARDENING. 



the water could be pumped from the hole up to a course that 

 would take it away, all difficulties would cease ; and this was 

 at length accomphshed, without any run off, or any possibihty 

 of making one. The land was good for notliingj but by 

 setting pumps to w^ork and raising the water from the hole to 

 a channel far above the ground, and which would take it away 

 as fast as it was pumped thence, the land was capable of being 

 effectually drained by the constant apphcation of mechanical 

 power, and from being worthless became worth forty shillings 

 an acre. Those who traverse the Fens now will see the 

 mighty power of steam always at work, channels of running 

 water, far above the level, made the receptacle of that pumped 

 up from the reservoirs deep enough to receive the drainage 

 from the lowest lands ; and the immense space which once 

 produced coarse water-grass, and rushes, flags, and other 

 aquatic weeds, now bearing six quarters of wheat per acre. 



Draining where there is no Outlet. — AVe do not sup- 

 pose there are many gardens situated so unfavourably as this ; 

 but there are thousands of plots of ground occupied as gardens 

 which are not only undrained, but which have no outlet for 

 water, if the draining operation were performed. This is the 

 worst position that a garden can be in ; and, do as we may, 

 they cannot be drained effectually. However, much good 

 may be done, and by no very costly means. Select the lowest 

 part of the ground, if there be any difference, where to sinl?: a 

 reservoir, or what may be termed a pond. If the land be 

 clay, it will only need to have the sides a little sloping. If it 

 be hght, sandy, or peat}^, the sides must slope much more. 

 The time for the operation must be when the land- water is 

 lowest, the work being continued till you come to water each 

 tune you set at it ; and when that has gone off, to leave it 

 dry, or comparatively dry, commence again, until you get it as 

 deep as you require it — not less than four feet, and five would 

 be better. Make a drain along the lowest part of the ground, 

 three feet six inches deep, leading into this reservoir ; or, if 

 the ground be such as to warrant it, let the reservoir be a 

 proper ditch, the length of the lower end. Let there now be 

 other drains made from the further part of the ground to this 

 main drain, or ditch, whichever you have adopted ; these to 

 be three feet six inches deep at the lower ends that come into 

 the main drain, and to rise no more than is actually necessary 

 to make a run of water, the shallowest not being less than 



