138 



PREPARATION OF LANDS. 



take up a great deal of ground which might otherwise be 

 made productive. 



428. Underdrains avoid these objections, and are more 

 economical. They may be constructed either of stones 

 or of tiles made for the purpose. The tiles are altogether 

 better, both because they can be laid down at less ex 

 pense, and because they last longer. They are also less 

 liable to get stopped up. 



429. To lay a stone drain properly, a large trench must 

 be dug. This requires great labor, and such a drain 

 should not be made unless there are a great many small 

 stones on the surface of the land which the farmer wishes 

 to get rid of, and even then the tile drain costs less and is 

 more economical in most cases. The different modes 

 of laying a stone drain are shown in figures 5, 6, and 7. 



Fiff. 5. 



Fiff. 0. 



430. In laying down the tile drain, the trench may be 

 very narrow, a width of a foot at the top and four inches 

 at the bottom being sufficient, as in figure 8. It is dug by 

 n s|;id ;ind hoes made for the purpose, and illustrated in 

 figures 9 and 10. 



