48 DRAINING LAND. 



very long together, it checks the vegetation of 

 farming crops, so as to compel the husbandman 

 to adopt a remedy. This ^ remedy consists in 

 draining. Drains are of various kinds. In the 

 United States we use chiefly open drains. But 

 in England, where the farmers are peculiarly 

 nice, and wish to make the most of the land, 

 both as to appearance and produce, they em- 

 ploy covered drains, or gutters, sometimes call- 

 ed in that country thoroughs. These are 

 generally from eighteen to twenty-four indues 

 >n depth, thrown across the land in such direc- 

 tions as shall best suit the discharge of the 

 water to the ditches at the borders of the field. 

 When this is done, bushes are thrust in, and on 

 them a close covering of straw is placed. On 

 this the earth may be securely laid. A hollow, 

 sufficient for the water-passage, is thereby ob- 

 tained, and no indications of the work are visi- 



