136 THE AMERICAN FARMER. 



nent improvement. It is so regarded by the English laws authorizing government loans in 

 aid of drainage, and permitting drainage to be charged for gradual payment to estates which 

 could not otherwise be burdened with debt under the laws of the entail. If every tile is perfect 

 and the work done thoroughly and well, and the outlets properly constructed and kept clear, 

 I see no reason why drains should not remain perfect for generations and centuries.&quot; 



It is a common practice to place tiles from 25 to 40 feet apart, according to the conditions 

 of the soil to be drained. If very wet, and the amount of water to be discharged be great, it 

 might be necessary to place them nearer than 25 feet. It is not a good plan to have the 

 trenches dug long before the tiles are laid, as they are apt to cave in, especially in cold, frosty 

 weather. If the work is done in winter, it may be facilitated by removing the sod in the fall 

 and plowing frequently the bottom of the ditches to keep them from freezing; as fast as the 

 trenches are dug to the proper grade, the tile should be laid and covered, remembering that 

 it is very important that the grade be such as to give the drains a continuous fall to prevent 

 the accumulation of obstructions in the pipe, or the water standing. Where collars are not 

 used, the pipes are often secured against displacement by two small flat stones placed like an 

 inverted letter V (in this form A) against the joints. 



Where there is a good fall, sand or mud will not be as liable to obstruct the drain, as it 

 is more readily washed out by the swifter current of water, but where the land is nearly level, 

 with but slight fall, obstructions will more readily accumulate, hence in such cases it is often 

 necessary that great care be taken to pack the joints well with clay to prevent the 

 sand entering and forming an obstruction. This is done by putting directly upon the joints 

 of the tiles the finest, most compact and clayey soil that can be found, and which does not 

 contain any perceptible vegetable matter whatever, such as leaves, grass, straw, or humus, 

 nothing but the hard, clayey soil. This should be put in to the depth of seven or eight inches 

 and then carefully beaten down around the tiles to hold them perfectly in place. Mr. Waring 

 says, that he believes this one operation has more to do with the permanence of a well- 

 laid tile drain than any other one part of the work. As fast as the tiles are laid and joints 

 properly secured in place, the ditch can be filled up with a plow or scraper, or in any other 

 way, as is found most convenient and economical. 



Stone Drains come next to tile in value for drainage purposes, but are more expensive 

 in the end than tiles, even where there is a supply of stone on the farm to be disposed of. The 

 labor of making a stone drain is much greater than laying tiles, and the process a slow one, 

 while they are very apt to fill up with sand and mud or other obstructions, and do not dis 

 charge the water as readily as tile drains. With great care they can be made serviceable for 

 years, and it may sometimes prove a good way to dispose of the surplus stones on the farm, 

 where tiles are not easily procurable, but as a general rule, we would advise that tiles be used 

 by all means and the work be well done, with a view to permanency. Mr. Waring says that 

 providing the stones were delivered free of cost on the bank of a ditch, the stone drain would 

 be more expensive than tile, and that where plenty of stones are on the ground for making 

 the drain, it will be easier and cheaper to cart them off and put them by the side of the road, 

 or dig a wide deep ditch and throw them into it to dispose of them and use tile, rather than 

 to utilize the stones for drainage purposes, he having tried both methods. Dr. Loring, Com 

 missioner of Agriculture, states that he has both tile and stone drains on his farm ; that the 

 tile drains were laid in 1857 and the stone drains in 1861, and that there is not a stone drain 

 open to-day, while there is not a tile drain that is obstructed, all being in good order. Farmers 

 who have had practical experience with both stone and tiles almost invariably prefer tiles. 

 The labor of getting together and selecting suitable stones for the purpose involves much time 

 and expense, while with the greatest care they cannot be made as close and free from obstruc 

 tions or as serviceable as tiles, and the current is never strong enough in them to remove 

 obstruction as it does in tile drains. The labor and expense of digging the trench for stone is 



