TILE AND PIPE DRAINING. 115 



however, undoubtedly, some soils, where, from their impervious 

 character, draining would be almost hopeless. It is difficult to 

 pronounce beforehand what soils come under this description. 

 It is certain that many soils, which were considered beyond the 

 reach of this species of improvement, have been subjected to it 

 with great and permanent advantage. In many cases, the char 

 acter of the soil, whether suitable or unsuitable for drainage, 

 might be easily ascertained by sinking a hole of the depth to 

 which it is proposed to drain, and, securing it from the access of 

 rain, or of water running upon the surface, ascertain whether 

 any water would filter into it. 



8. ASSOCIATION FOR DRAINAGE. The drainage of land upon 

 the most improved principles and method, may be considered in 

 England as a branch of engineering, to the successful application 

 of which both science and much practice and experience are 

 requisite. For an individual to undertake it upon any exten 

 sive scale, without sufficient knowledge and skill, would be 

 likely to terminate in disappointment and loss. It would seem 

 as though no better plan could be adopted than that which has 

 been recently undertaken, viz., the organization, with an ample 

 capital, of a draining association. This company, under the 

 name of the West of England and South Wales Land Draining 

 Company, propose to establish, in different and convenient parts 

 of the country, where the clay is abundant and suitable, tileries 

 for the manufacture of pipe tiles ; they mean to secure to them 

 selves always the services of accomplished and practical engi 

 neers, and, having proper tools and experienced workmen, they 

 will undertake the effectual drainage of whole farms, guaranty 

 ing that the work shall be executed in a correct and perfect 

 manner ; and in this way at a great saving of trouble, and at a 

 great deal less expense than it could be effected by individual 

 effort and enterprise. It is difficult to conceive of an arrange 

 ment from which, if skilfully and liberally managed, more ad 

 vantages may result. An extensive and thorough system of 

 drainage will, beyond all question, effect for England the greatest 

 and best improvement, in an agricultural view, which can pos 

 sibly be looked for. &quot; The effect produced on the crops of close, 

 retentive soils, after they have been perfectly drained and subsoil- 

 ploughed,&quot; says Mr. Morton, &quot; is most astonishing. The prod- 



