132 THE AMERICAN FARMER. 



outlet, and character of the soil, all have to be taken into account, consequently the plan of no 

 two fields will scarcely ever be the same. The roots of trees and shrubs sometimes obstruct 

 drains, therefore it is well in laying out their course to avoid them as far as practicable. 

 When a drain must of necessity pass near trees, the use of coal-tar is sometimes found beneficial 

 in excluding the roots. Mixing coal-tar and sawdust to the consistency of mortar, and placing 

 a layer of this in the bottom of the trench at such places, and then laying the drain-pipe 

 upon it, and covering it with this mixture to the thickness of an inch, before covering with 

 earth, all trouble from roots will be obviated. Some writers recommend that soft and porous 

 tiles (though not as durable) be used at such places as are liable to trouble from roots, with 

 the joints laid in cement, the hard tiles being ordinarily used for drains, as they are more 

 durable. All tiles having small holes, called &quot;pin-holes,&quot; should be carefully avoided, and 

 all aquatic trees near the line of the drain should be killed before the drain is laid. Mr. W. 

 I. Chamberlain, of Summit County, Ohio, gives the following statement relative to the 

 wandering nature of roots, and their tendency to obstruct drains: 



&quot; The roots of aquatic or water-loving trees, like the willow and some kinds of elm, 

 seem to have almost no limit to their growth, either horizontally or vertically; and they seem 

 to go in search of moisture or richness, as if by instinct, and to know just where to find it. 

 I have traced the roots of a smallish elm some twenty-five feet horizontally, and six feet ver 

 tically, to their feeding-place in a grave in an old cemetery; and I have, in plowing, 

 traced the roots of a large elm one hundred feet horizontally by measurement. These roots 

 will enter even a pin-hole in tiles, if they can find running water. Mr. H. B. Camp, of 

 Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, told me a few days since, that he once helped take up an obstructed drain, 

 whose joints were laid in cement, I think he said. At all events, a willow root had entered 

 at a pin-hole not larger than a small darning-needle, and spread into a fibrous mass and 

 packed the tile full of roots for several feet the only connection with the upper world and 

 their lungs (the tree-leaves) being this small, thread-like root, that entered at the pin-hole. 

 It is better to cut such trees down when they are near a damp drain, and see that they are dead. 

 Prof. Townshend, of the Columbus (Ohio) Agricultural College, exhibited in one of his 

 lectures recently a dark, stiff, fibrous, sponge-like, solid cylinder, some three feet long and 

 three inches in diameter. When the class had done guessing, he gave its history. It was 

 the willow-root core of his cellar-drain. Knowing the nature of these roots, he cut the willow 

 down before he laid the drain, and burned the stump all he could ; but in spite of that, its 

 roots stopped his cellar-drain at a depth of five or six feet ! &quot; 



When a main drain has parallel drains flowing into it on both sides, these openings into 

 the main drain should not be exactly opposite each other. The evil effects of such a plan 

 are at once perceptible. Some prefer to have two main drains parallel to each other, each to 

 receive the subordinate drains from its side only. If these main drains are located as far 

 apart as the other tiles in the field, but little additional expense will be incurred by having 

 two instead of one, as these receiving-drains, besides taking the water from the others, also 

 perform the same office as the other drains for the lands through which they pass. One of 

 the best English authorities on this subject says : 



&quot; Much of the success of draining depends on the skillful planning of these main drains, 

 and in making them large enough to discharge the greatest flow of water to which they are 

 exposed. Very long main drains are to be avoided.&quot; 



&quot;In the whole process of draining,&quot; says an experienced engineer, &quot;there is nothing 

 more important than permanent and substantial work at the outlet.&quot; It is a place where 

 obstructions are most liable to occur, being most exposed to the effects of frost, while reptiles, 

 cattle and mischievous boys often do great damage, unless it is sufficiently protected. The 

 earth everywhere else is a protection to the tiles. It is, therefore, well to have as few outlets 

 as possible, and these should be secured by a heavy frame-work of timber or stone, and an 



