THE DRAINAGE OF THE FARM. 4(37 



covered by a stone placed far enough below the surface to be out of reach 

 of the plough. All important discharging vents should be provided with 

 stone or cast-iron ends, and light gratings or a wooden box, in districts 

 subject to extreme frosts, the ordinary tile being liable to crumble 

 away. Each outlet should be numbered and registered in the regular 

 drainage book of the farm. How often do we see the mouths of main 

 drains laid into open, imperfectly cleaned ditches and no means being 

 taken to mark their positions, they are soon overgrown, and, perhaps, stop- 

 j>"d up altogether. 



If the main drain discharges itself into an open ditch, there ought to be 

 a drop of from nine to twelve inches ; and, in every case where it is possible 

 : -tain it, the main should be four to six inches deeper than the side 

 drains. The latter ought to join the former, not exactly at right angles, 

 but with a slight turn in the direction of the fall. And the workman 

 who lays the pipes, should be most careful to cut a large enough opening 

 in the main to vent all the water discharged by each side-drain, and then 

 to pack the joint all round with stone chips. 



LATERAL, SIDE, OR FURROW DRAINS. 



In laying out the side drains, in lands which can only be dried by the 

 parallel system of drainage, there are certain general rules which require 

 to be observed. If the ground is lying in narrow, round-backed ridges, it 

 may save considerable cutting to put a drain into each furrow. But, in 

 many cases, there will be no saving effected, in the aggregate, by adopting 

 tliis plan. More pipes will be required to drain an acre, than would be 

 necessary with the drains placed at regular intervals; and hence the 

 amount saved on the cutting is lost on the material. It is the duty of the 

 on who gives advice in regard to the operations, to estimate the com- 

 parative cost, under each system; and, keeping both cheapness and etli- 

 ncy in view, li<- ought to act according to the best of his judgment. In 

 it will In; found advisable to pay very little attention t the ol<l 

 furrows, l.'-t the drains be laid off at regular intervals, to >uit the nai 



il, anl carried through cither ridges or furrows, as they may come 

 in tin- way. The fact ought always to be kept in view, however, that, with 

 ! "f drainin subsequently to combine a K\ ell in- 



<-ess of the soil. Rain-water should not be allowed to run a 1 



round, and descend unmediately above the pipes \Vhere- 



ie it ought to descend, and thru find its way laterally to 



drain Channel on either side. On well-drained land. thrre ought to be 



