220 Kansas State Board of Agriculture. 



I drained the field west of the draw first. The problem in this field 

 was 1 the removal of the water that came from rains and occasional over- 

 flows and gathered in a wide, flat basin in the east fifteen acres of the 

 field. Part of it would soak away. In digging our ditches we found, 

 about a foot below the surface, a narrow ridge of hardpan that extends 

 along the draw, at no place over fifty yards from it. This ridge is what 

 prevented the water from getting away. We used 4-in. tile in this field, 

 except where we joined two laterals, where we used 6-in. tile to the outlet. 



We used no intakes or manholes, as they are unnecessary. Where an 

 intake is used it is a nuisance unless properly constructed. A good intake 

 should be of concrete construction and big enough for a man to get down 

 into and clean the settling basin with a shovel. The bottom of the settling 

 basin should be at least two feet below the mouth of any inflowing or out- 

 flowing tile. 



Between the first and second joints of tile at the outlet we put in 

 ^-in. iron rods to keep skunks and rabbits from using the tile as dens in 

 dry weather. We used r'ock to construct our retaining walls at the out- 

 let. Solid concrete would be better. Also, if the tile were laid in, and 

 slightly covered with a coarse grout for ten or twelve feet from the out- 

 let it would be well, as it would prevent animals from digging back 

 along the tile and dislodging them. 



We used the skeleton spades exclusively to dig our trenches, removing 

 no more dirt than was absolutely necessary. I do not like plowing as it 

 makes an awful muck when wet and when dry the clods are always 

 rolling back into the ditch. 



The main part of the after-care of a drainage system is the care of 

 the outlets. Keep out the "varmints" and you will have little or no 

 trouble if your tile is laid and graded properly. 



On the east side of the draw is the big system. There over 12,600 

 tile gather the water from about 30 acres and empty it out at one 8-in. 

 outlet. The problem there was the same as in the field west of the draw, 

 and added to it was the problem of caring for the seep water from the 

 slope at the east end of the eighty. The map best describes the placing 

 of the tile. The most difficult element of the problem was that of ar- 

 ranging for enough fall, and we had to lay the main quite deep in order 

 that the branches and laterals might have plenty of fall. It is impos- 

 sible properly to solve such a problem without a careful survey with a 

 good telescope level. Any person of reasonable intelligence and educa- 

 tion can use the levels if they first read the directions and follow them 

 exactly. So if you are thinking of tackling any such problem a good 

 level may save you a lot of grief and expense. 



The first effect of drainage on this land was the making of thirty 

 acres of the place capable of the production of crops instead of ash 

 grubs, malaria and crawfish. It loosened the soil by taking out the sur- 

 plus moisture, leaving just the right amount for the proper condition 

 of the soil. It deepened the soil, as the stationary water level in the 

 ground was lowered, and the plant roots can go down instead of rotting 

 off in the stale, poisonous water that formerly was just below the surface. 

 One can get into the field sooner after a rain or overflow. I have cul- 



