70 GREENE COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



foot long in the blade, on which we get the blacksmith to weld 

 a stirrup, or spur, at the side, that will suit the foot. This is 

 sent in the full depth every time, and the loose dirt is thrown 

 out with a long-handled shovel. We are very careful not to 

 get too deep before testing the drain with water. We now 

 take a long-handled shovel, which is best for the purpose, and 

 of which we have different sizes to suit the different tile, and 

 cut a narrow channel in the bottom of the ditch, in which the 

 tile will lie snugly, then put a spadeful of earth in the ditch 

 above the tank, and let the water in. It takes two to do this 

 part of the work to advantage, one in the ditch to mark where 

 there is any dead water, and grade below the same until it rip- 

 ples along nicely. Then when you have graded as far as the 

 water will move freely, drive on and repeat the operation. I 



ALWAYS USE ROUND TILE, 



which are strung along the edge of the ditch as soon as it is 

 graded, so that they are easily reached by the man who is lay- 

 ing them. They are placed in their bed as snugly as possible, 

 the person laying them turning the same until they fit as close 

 as possible. There is no danger of getting them too close. 

 Occasionally the man kicks them with his foot so as to make 

 them lie firmly, and it is quite a task to take a tile out when 

 properly laid. He then walks on top of them to see that they 

 are even and solid, and should there be any holes, cracks, or 

 detective places, he takes a piece of broken tile of the next 

 larger size and places over it. The tile laid, he commences at 

 one end with the narrow spade and throws down the dirt from 

 the side, thus covering the tile sufficiently so that there is no 

 danger of its moving, walking on the same until all is covered. 

 This is done very rapidly. 



HOW TO COVER TILE. 



A strong pole, about tAvelve feet long, is then fixed with a 

 clevis at one end, to which is liitched one horse, and a plow 

 clevis is arranged so that it can be moved along the pole in 

 .different notches, to which is attached a good three- horse plow. 



