DITCHING AND DRAINING. 13 



slighted. The rakes are much the same as those used in 

 hauling out muck, and may be found at the hardware 

 stores. 



CHAPTER III. 

 DITCHING AND DRAINING. 



There should be a main ditch, about four feet wide, as 

 near the centre of the bog as possible. When the bog is 

 excessively wet, other ditches should be run at distances 

 of five rods apart. When it is comparatively dry, and 

 there are not many springs, the ditches may be from 

 eight to ten rods apart. 



Wherever we find a spring, we usually make a ditch 

 leading from it into the main ditch. It is a mistake to 

 undertake to fill in a spring. It is sure to burst forth, 

 and cause more trouble than if it had been provided for 

 in the first place. 



There should be a marginal ditch, running completely 

 around the bog, about three feet wide at the top, eight- 

 een inches deep, and eighteen inches wide at the bottom. 

 All the ditches must be dug with slanting banks, to pre- 

 vent the sides from caving. 



From the marginal ditch, the other ditches are all 

 made to pitch toward the main or central ditch. It is 

 usually the case, in working a bog, that more or less 

 springs are struck, and the only way to get rid of the 

 water is by running it off through the ditches. All the 

 side or intersecting ditches should be of the dimensions 

 just given for the marginal ditch, which I consider a 

 good proportion for a ditch, and all that is ordinarily 

 required. 



It will not be found necessary to clear the ditches often. 



