FARM DRAINAGE. 227 



thousand for two inch tile to $50.00 per thousand for seven 

 inch tile. The drains should follow the most natural channel 

 and should be at least three feet deep. Great care should be 

 taken to procure a gradual fall, from the beginning of the 

 drain to the outlet, and the latter should be protected from 

 stock by enclosing with a rail fence. 



It is important too, that a hole should be drilled crosswise 

 through the top of the end tile, into which should be inserted 

 a large wire, supporting a trap door arranged to open outward, 

 admitting an uninterrupted flow of water. This prevents 

 rabbits, skuidcs, and other small animals from entering the 

 mouth, where they are liable to get fast and die, thus check- 

 ing the flow of Avater, and causing the tile to break up if 

 there is a good fall, or fill up with mire if there is but a slight 

 one. 



I have no hesitancy in saying that I have never made an 

 investment in connection with the farm that has given such 

 •permanent and satisfactory results as that of tile drainage. 



Through the north half of the farm, consisting of one 

 hundred and sixty acres of rolling prairie land, there run two 

 main slouglis, connecting with which are three side drains or 

 branches, all connecting in one main open drain on the east 

 side of the farm. These I have tiled with four to seven inch 

 tile, as the amount of water to be carried off seemed to require 

 To rightly appreciate the benefits, it is but necessary to state 

 that, although this land has been in cultivation forty-eight 

 years, in all that time these sloughs have been impassable a 

 large portion of the year, causing the miring of reapers and. 

 mowers and consequent delay of work in the harvest; the 

 breaking of wagons and injury to farm teams, and making the 

 hauling of more than a half load of grain, hay, manure, rails» 

 etc., at any season of the year, an utter impossibility. These 

 sloughs have carried on their repulsive bosoms vast quantities of 

 liquid manure and decaying vegetable matter, thereby robbing 

 the adjacent land of the materials necessary to its fertility, and 

 in return producing only doctors' bills, disease, death and taxes. 

 Under the new order of things, I am enabled, if I choose, to 



