66 ELEMENTARY AGRICULTURE. 



a few feet above the level of the stream, the land can be 

 easily drained. 



Tiling. It is conceded that the tile system of drain- 

 age is better than the open ditch, though it requires 

 more labor and expense. The tiles should be placed 

 about three feet below the surface, so that the ground 

 water level will be lowered to this point and the ground 

 cultivated without interfering with the tiles. The size 

 of the tiles to be used, and the distance apart which 

 they should be placed, depends upon the slope and the 

 character of the soil. An experienced drainage engi- 

 neer should have charge of the work. 



Open Ditches. Open ditches may prove quite as 

 effectual in draining the land, if they be deep enough 

 and not too far apart. Of course they must be kept 

 cleaned out. The greatest objection to open ditches is 

 that they cut up the land and thus interfere with culti- 

 vation. They can best be used in draining out sloughs 

 and narrow, swampy places. Many acres of low land, 

 now uncultivated, might be made very productive if 

 properly drained. 



Farmers' Bulletins. 



No. 40. Farm Drainage. 



No. 187. Drainage of Farm Lands. 

 Table VHI. 



Table showing average cost of drainage tile in large quan- 

 tities: 



3 in. tile cost about 30 each. 



4 in. tile cost about 4c each. 



5 in. tile cost about 5c each. 



6 in. tile cost about 6c each. 

 All sizes are 12 inches in length. 



