THE EMIGRANT'S HAND-BOOK. 37 



the next inquiry be, is this wetness occasioned by springs 

 or by surface water? If the former, then carefully ex- 

 amine and see where it will be necessary to locate drains, 

 to catch the water before it breaks out on the surface. 

 If the springs are small, economize closely so as to con- 

 centrate as many spring%as possible in one ditch ; but if 

 the springs are large, there may be danger of getting more 

 water in one ditch than it will carry, unless it is made in- 

 conveniently large. In this case it may be well to make 

 two or more main drains. If any springs exist which 

 cannot be brought within the line of the main drain, mark 

 a side cut from the main ditch to the spring or wet ground, 

 and thus bring it in. Be sure to have a good draft and 

 outlet to the main ditch. 



When the work is thus laid out, begin at the outlet, and 

 dig a ditch two and a half feet deep, as the line of the 

 ditch is laid out. The width of the ditch must depend 

 upon the size of the stones which will be used for filling, 

 large stones requiring a wider ditch than smaller ones. 

 Our practice is to cut fourteen inches broad on the sur- 

 face, and the bottom sufficiently wide to permit the free 

 use of the common farm shovel. The stones should be 

 drawn and placed in a row along the bank of the ditch, 

 on the side opposite the one on which the earth is thrown; 

 the largest stones lying nearest the ditch. The filling in 

 of stones should commence at the upper end of the ditch. 

 After removing all loose earth, place a row of stones on 

 each side on the bottom of the ditch, and cap with another, 

 leaving a tunnel proportioned in size to the quantity of 

 water which will need- to flow through. A four-inch 

 tunnel is generally sufficient. On the top, and around 

 these cap-stones, place smaller stones until within twelve 

 inches of the earth: place a slight sprinkling of straw on 

 the stones to prevent the earth from falling among them, 

 and with the plough carefully fill the ditch. 



