118 



EUROPEAN AGRICULTURE. 



&quot;On the heavy lands of Suffolk, and the adjoining counties,&quot; 

 says one farmer, &quot;under-draining at a distance of 16J- feet, and 

 at a depth of 26 or 30 inches, is as much a matter of routine as 

 hedging and ditching.&quot; This depth would now be deemed 

 quite insufficient. 



The mode of covering drains is various. Where the drains 

 are filled with broken stones, it is advised to lay upon the top 

 of the stones an inverted sod, and then return the dirt which has 

 heen taken out. Where a pipe or tile and sole are used, the 

 same advice may be given. In adhesive or clayey soils, it is 

 deemed quite objectionable to return the clay, and ram it in 

 closely upon the pipe. It has been deemed important, by some 

 persons, that alternate pipes of a large and a small bore should 

 be used, so that the small pipes may enter the larger ones, and 

 that there should be no interruption of continuity between them. 

 In some cases, rings of clay have been formed, into which the 

 ends of the two pipes might enter, so as to close the interstice, 

 and retain the pipes upon a level. This is not, however, deemed 

 necessary. Where the bottom is hard, and the pipes carefully 

 placed, there is no danger, afterwards, of their getting, if the term 

 may be allowed, misfitted ; in cases where the bottom is sandy 

 or loose, more pains must be taken to prevent this, which is 

 easily done by an experienced and careful drainer. 



10. EXAMPLES OF DRAINAGE IN IRELAND. I have now, I 

 believe, enumerated the principal points to be observed in drain 

 ing a piece of land according to the most improved system. 

 With a view the better to illustrate this important subject, I 

 subjoin a plan of the drainage of a farm in Ireland, belonging to 

 Messrs. Andrews, of Comber, county Down, (see p. 120,) together 



