52 Practical Farming 



too expensive. One of the simplest forms of underdrains 

 is to cut a ditch of the proper depth and lay in the bottom 

 two pine poles with the bark taken off. These are laid so 

 as to leave a space between them and a larger pole is placed 

 on top so as to form a channel for the water between the 

 first two. The whole are covered with leaves to prevent 

 the earth sifting in and the ditch is then filled. These 

 pole-drains last well and have in some cases done effective 

 work for twenty years. Drains are also made where rocks 

 or stones are plentiful by placing them on the sides of the 

 ditch and covering with other and larger rocks or stones 

 and then with smaller broken parts before filling. These 

 drains when well made are of a very lasting character. 

 Still other drains are made by naiHng four narrow boards 

 in the form of a long box and laying these in the ditch. 

 These, too, last well in the ground, for when kept con- 

 stantly wet the wood, shut from the air, takes a long time 

 to decay. But for permanent drains the earthen tiles are 

 much to be preferred where the expense can be afforded. 



Still we have had in use well-made stone underdrains 

 which as near as could be ascertained were laid one hun- 

 dred years ago and are still effective. The drains should 

 be cut as deep as the fall in the land will allow, for the 

 deeper they are below the surface and the nearer the lines 

 of drains to each other, the more effectively they will lower 

 the water-table. 



Special tools are made for digging and shaping the bot- 

 tom of the ditch and for laying the tiles. We have found 

 that it is always better to cover the tiles at first with fine 

 hay or straw to prevent the earth sifting into the joints of 

 the pipes. 



