316 THE YOUNG FARMER'S MANUAL. 



other form, because the narrower the channel is on the bottom, 

 the more rapidly the stream will flow ; and the swifter the stream 

 flows, the more gravel and dirt which may find way into the 

 calibre will be carried out with the stream. Therefore sole tile, 

 with egg-shaped calibre, when they are made true, are preferable 

 to tile of any other form. But when we must take up with those 

 that have been jammed and pinched and heedlessly knocked into 

 the shape of a cocked-hat, when in a plastic state, round tile are 

 preferable to those of any other form, because one can make letter 

 joints in laying them. Half-round or horseshoe tile will become 

 obstructed with sedimentary matter much sooner than sole tile 

 with egg-shaped calibre. Pieces of tile, for the junction of drains, 

 are manufactured with one or two branches on the sides, or with 

 two calibres at one end like a fork, and one at the other end. 



COST OF DIGGING DITCHES. 



439. It will cost twice as much to dig a ditch of a given depth 

 and breadth in some localities as it will in others ; and even on 

 the same farm, and sometimes in the same field, a man will be able 

 to dig twice as much as in others. If the subsoil is so hard and 

 stony that it must be all picked up with a sharp pick, if a laborer 

 cuts six or eight rods in length, of thirty inches deep, in a day, he 

 performs a faithful day's work. It is acknowledged by every 

 experienced ditcher that it is proportionally more expensive cut 

 ting deep ditches than shallow ones. After a ditch is dug thirty 

 inches deep, it is worth, in some ground, from eight to ten cents 

 more per rod for the next foot in depth. In ordinary digging, all 

 good ditchers will be able to dig a rod in length of tile ditch, thirty 

 inches deep, in an hour. Very many ditchers will perform more 

 than this, while many who have had but little experience, and 

 handle their tools awkwardly, will not be able to do more than 

 one rod in length in two hours. "Where ditching is performed as 

 recommended in paragraph 402, ditches for a single row of tile, 

 three feet deep, ought not to cost over ten or fifteen cents per 

 rod, according to the compactness of the subsoil ; and the cost will 

 not exceed that sum, if laborers are willing to do a faithful day's 



