2OO 



FARM DEVELOPMENT 



main and of each lateral drain should show all eleva- 

 tions, grade lines and bridges ; and, in case of tile drains, 

 any special features, as silt wells, etc., should be given. 



THE CONSTRUCTION OF TILE DRAINS 



Much effort has been expended in the construction of 

 machines for making underground drains which open 

 out the ditches and, at the same operation, lay the tiles 

 and return the earth into the ditch. While some sub- 

 stantial progress has been made with this class of ma- 

 chinery, it is at best adapted only to 

 long lines of ditch to be made in land 

 free from stones. The man with the 

 spade must continue to make the tile 

 drains in all difficult places and in cases 

 where the line of the drain is not suf- 

 ficiently long to warrant the use of 

 machinery. 



Opening with spade. Like the sur- 

 vey, as a rule, the work should begin at 

 the lower end or outlet of the drain. 

 In some cases, the upper 8 to 12 inches 

 of earth may be easily thrown out by 

 means of a common plow or the rever- 

 sible road machine. To make the line 

 of the ditch straight, a cord may be 



used to mark one side of the ditch. S* 



t ? Am 6 ?? 

 a fi? g $ & 



Those who have not had experience S 68 oS^w th to '? 

 will be surprised that the ditch should 3Tidl*S?St tSS 



, i , * , . , wide at the top adds two- 



not be more than 10 to 12 inches wide thirds to * h e earth 

 at the top for a ditch 3 or 4 feet deep. 

 Figure 89, with notes, illustrates the fact that much less 

 earth is handled in the narrow ditch. Experience will 

 convince anyone that there is no serious inconvenience 

 in working in a narrow ditch. In fact, the sides being 



