1838] 



FARMERS' REGISTER, 



715 



for filling, and other circumstances, vary so much 

 in ilitt'erent oountie?, and even in the different 

 districts or parishes oC the same county, thiit 

 no Slated rule can he laid down lor asceriaining 

 it with a proper deijree of accuracy. It is, how- 

 ever, sutficienily evident, that in every situa- 

 tion, when judiciously laid out, it never fails to 

 yi(!ld an ample return for the labor and expense 

 be-:iowed npon the work. The cheapest and most 

 expeditious meihod of ijettinif all work executed, 

 is by contract. Drainiuir, wlien on an extensive 

 .«rale, should therelbre he contracted lor by the 

 piece, i. e. either by lineal or solid measure, ac- 

 cording; 10 the nature of the work. Open drains 

 of a larire size, and of' an ascertained width and 

 depth, may be all a^^reed for hy the cubic yard; 

 but those that are narrow, and are to be covered, 

 .•should be done by the yard, or rood (six yards) in 

 Jeuffih. 



However ex[)Iicitly the dimensions of drains are 

 described by a plan, or occasionally to the work- 

 men eiu[)loyed, tliey are so a[)r to go wrong, that 

 the surest and most simple vvay is, to have a frame 

 of wood of the exact size of the drair. lor them \o 

 work by. B3' this means if is impossible to err. 

 In forming an agreement for the execution of 

 drains that are to be covered, more caution is ne- 

 cessary than in the case of open drains. The 

 digging to the specified depth, should be one part 

 of the contract, laying the conduit and upper 

 stones that may be necessary, a second part of it ; 

 and the filliiiir in the earth at top, another. This 

 is essential, lor the purpose of seeing that the pro- 

 per width and depth is adhered to. belbre the stones 

 are laid ; and, in the second place, that the conduit 

 is properly formed, and the quantity of stones ne- 

 cessary put above it, belore the earth is tilleil in. 

 Workmen are in general so careless in these op- 

 erations, where they are not interested in the suc- 

 cess or elFoct, that they are very ready to execute 

 them in a slight and superficial manner, and to 

 lessen the dimensions that are ixiven them. In all 

 extensive undertakiuirs of tins kind, it is proper to 

 have an intellisrent person to superintend the work 

 of the contractor. 



As the prices of labor vary in different districts, 

 and as the nature of the soil, and supply of ma- 

 terials for filling, are not alike in all situations, the 

 expense of draining nmst vary considerably, ac- 

 cording to these circumstances. Open drains do 

 not exceed twopence per cubic yard, when the 

 depth is between lour and six feet, and may ad- 

 vance a [lenny per yard lor every additional foot of 

 depth. Drains to be covered, of six feet deep, 

 may be executed at sixpence per yard in lenirth ; 

 the stones laid, and earth filled in above, for six- 

 pence per yanl; and, in most cases, the stones 

 may be quarried, or collected, and led, for six- 

 peiice per yard, making the whole expense one 

 sliilling and sixpence p(;r lineal yard. These pri- 

 ces will, however, be less or more, accoriiing to 

 the depth ; hut nearly in the above projiortion, 

 which, when any variation takes place, can easily 

 be calculated. In short, ilie expense of drainiuiT 

 in any situation, does seldom exceed the rate of 

 £10 per acre; and as this seldom gives a less re- 

 turn than £ 10 per cent, or in man\' instances dou- 

 ble that sum, certainly no outlay of money can be 

 «mployed to better purpose. 



Regarding the subject of these two last sec- 

 tions, additional information will be found in Part 

 IV. 



SECTION III. 



Obstacles to draining, and jneans of removing 

 them. 



Iniprovement in every art is of slow introduction. 

 At first, the success of the scheme is uncertain, 

 till, by time and frequent experiment, the whole 

 ciicumstaiices ol the operation become f\miliar, 

 and a facility of execution is acquired. Tdl tlien, 

 many attempts will [)rove abortive; disa|)f;oint- 

 menis will ensue, and a certiun ex|)ense will be 

 incurred. This holds in agriculture, as well as in 

 other arts. Improvements in farming must begin 

 with projjrietors, to whom a miscarriage is of less 

 importance. That a liirmer should express a dif- 

 fidence in an experiment that is new, and which 

 he fears is beyond his reach, is not to be wondered 

 at ; nor is he on that account to be blamed, as ig- 

 norant or obsiinate. Experiments, the success of 

 which are often precarious, are not to be risked by 

 one whose living depends alone on his own indus- 

 try. In those matters in which British farmers 

 have a concern, their sense and sagacity lead them 

 to pay attention to their interest; and when prac- 

 tices are recommended to them, by repeated suc- 

 cess — and when they are convinced, either from 

 their own observation, or from unquestionable au- 

 thority, that the execution is practicable, and the 

 expense witliin their reach — diffidence gives vvay, 

 and industry undertakes and accomplishes, what 

 reason and interest recomniend. 



Such now is the character of a great proportion 

 of the farmers in Scotland ; and neitlier ignorance, 

 prejudice, nor obstinacy, is now, on their part, a 

 bar to improvement. The landlords, in general, 

 are liberal, and encourage an active and enterpri- 

 sing spirit among their tenantry ; and by this 

 means, improvement. In all the branches of modern 

 husbandry, is coming every day nearer to perlec- 

 lion. 



Notwithstanding of this being now in general 

 the case, there are sull a great n)any exceptions, 

 more especially where short rr uncertain leases 

 exist, which certainly are a great drawback, not 

 only to draining, but to every oiher improvement, 

 of which many farms are capable. 



It is the hope of reward alone that calls forth 

 industry, and is the spring of all exertion. What 

 object can a tenant have to hazard his capital, or 

 devote his time and attention to the improvement 

 of a (arm. which he holds on a short or uncertain 

 tenure ? In every such situation, he must be res- 

 trained from any spirited expenditure, however 

 much he may be satisfied, that the improvements 

 that might thereby be effected, would, under fa- 

 vorable circumstances, be beneficial both to him- 

 self and to his landlord. 



The smallness of (arms, and consequently the 

 want of spirit and capital among such tenants, is 

 also another obstacle to this improvement ; as such 

 land must always remain under very imperfect 

 systems of management. By these checks to ag- 

 ricultura! improvement, the public is consequently 

 deprived of the various advantages, which they 

 might otherwise derive, from increased industry, 

 and the augmentation of produce. As ;he remo- 

 val of these obstacles rests entirely with the pro- 

 prietors on whose estates they exist, it is hoped, 

 that when such leases expire, a better system will 

 he adopted, for the mutual advantage of both land- 

 lord and tenant. 



