484 CONSTRUCTION, FARM ENGINEERING, MECHANICS 



Drainage points (Fippin). 



1. Surface or open ditches are: 



Of low efficiency, 



Wasteful of land, 



Expensive to maintain, 



Harbor weeds, 



Interfere with cultural operations. 



2. Stone drains are: 



Not permanent, 



They have a small capacity, 



Therefore, are expensive. 



Ten good rules 



1. Use dense, hard-burned tile. 



2. Water enters through the joints. 



3. Round or hexagonal shapes are best. 



4. An even grade is essential. 



5. Avoid tile smaller than three inches on low grades. 



6. Hill land may need drainage. 



7. Ditching plows are very useful. 



8. Carefully construct and protect the outlet. 



9. Depth in heavy clay, two to three feet. 



10. Depth in loam and sandy loam, three to four feet. 



Don'ts in land drainage (Jones, Wis. Sta.). 



1. Don't dodge the wet spots in cultivated fields. A few dol- 

 lars spent in drainage will make these spots yield valuable crops 

 and will make the cultivation of the whole field more convenient. 



2. Don't be content with raising marsh grass on muck and peat 

 marshes. Drainage is the step that begins their adaptation to tame 

 grasses and other farm crops. 



3. Don't condemn the muck and peat marshes on which timothy 

 has died out once. Drain thoroughly and then apply barnyard ma- 

 nure or commercial fertilizers, as is done on uplands. In other 

 words, give the marshes a square deal. 



4. Don't wait for nature to drain the wet lands without assist- 



