n 



ration ; so that on this account there is double the 

 necessity for draining here. 



Our atmosphere absorbs moisture so rapidly that 

 the surface of retentive land is soon baked, and water 

 cannot rise from below by capillary attraction, so that 

 crops suffer from drought, an effect which we seek to 

 arrest by mulching. Drains will keep this soil pul- 

 verized, so that water will rise freely by capillary 

 attraction, in sufficient quantity for the use of the 

 crops. 



It would be impossible, in our limited space, to enu- 

 merate the many important details of construction 

 that are necessary to insure an active and permanent 

 drainage. 



Duties of the agricultural engineer. 



Any kind of work can be executed with greater 

 efficiency and economy by a person who has made a 

 careful study of the principles involved, and who has 

 a thorough knowledge of the details of practical con- 

 struction ; and especially in draining, the work of a 

 novice is often as expensive as it is clumsy. The 

 agricultural engineer should be familiar with all that 

 appertains to thorough draining ; and it is his duty af- 

 ter being called upon by the proprietor, to examine 

 the ground, (digging trial holes or a trial drain if neces- 

 sary) in order to ascertain the character of the soil as 

 to compactness, dip of strata, etc., and also to find 

 whether the source of wetness is from beneath by 

 springs, or from retention of surface water. If it is 

 proposed to drain a large area, a careful topograph- 



