44 HOW TO MAKE THE FARM PAY. 



obstructions. It consists of a long wooden beam and stilts, 

 but, instead of the share, has a long, thin iron shank, at the 

 bottom of which is a short, pointed bar of iron, two, three, or 

 four inches square, as the nature of the ground permits. This 

 machine can be dragged through clay at a depth of from three 

 to four feet, by means of a capstan and chain and a pair of 

 horses or oxen, or by putting on five or six yoke of oxen. It 

 leaves a narrow channel like a mole run, whence its name. A 

 somewhat similar machine has been used, (and, we believe, may 

 yet be perfected,) which also draws in the tile after it. A short 

 section of trench is first dug, and then the tiles are strung on a 

 vope and drawn through after the plow, and then the rope 

 removed. We believe this to be entirely practicable, and we 

 urge the propriety of continued experiments upon our western 

 prairies until the idea is brought to perfection. There are 

 various machines which cut a ditch two feet deep, leaving the 

 last half of the ditching still to be done by hand. 



In many hard limestone soils, where a regular system of 

 drainage is impossible, there are points at which wells might be 

 sunk and filled with cobble stones. 



If these wells reach a substratum of poroms soil they will 

 drain quite an extent of ground. Experiments are required to 

 prove the practical economy of this system of drainage. 



The size of Drain Tiles is an important consideration, as 

 prices increase with the size. The common mistake is too 

 large minors and too small mains. One and one and a half 

 inches is ordinarily large enough for minors, unless they are of 

 great length, when the first half may be one and a half, and the 

 latter half two inches. As the slope increases the necessity for 

 size diminishes. The mains should be able to carry ofl' all the 

 water brought by the minors. But here, it should be remem- 

 bered, that one three inch pipe is equal to nine one inch pipes 



