Chap. XL OF MEADOW. 379 



land, to ralfe the furface. But where the water can be conve- 

 niently carried off, the beft method is, to make under ground 

 drains at proper diftances, which may empty themfelves into large 

 ditches, which are defigned to carry off the water. Thefe fort of 

 drains are the mofl convenient, and no ground is loft where they 

 are made. 



The ufual method of making them, is to dig trenches to a proper 

 depth for carrying off the water, which, for the principal drains, 

 fliould be three feet wide at top, and floped down to a fufficient 

 depth. In thefe trenches, drains may be built in the manner of 

 common fewers, and covered over with the earth dug out of the 

 trenches. Thefe drains fliould be at leaft a foot deep, and nearly 

 as wide, that there may be room for the water to pafs through. 

 The larger drains fliould be at convenient diftances, and fmaller 

 drains of about fix or feven inches wide, fliould be cut a-crofs the 

 ground, to difcharge the water into thofe larger drains. The 

 number and fituation of them fliould be proportioned to the wet- 

 nefs of the land, and the depth of the earth above the drains fliould 

 exceed a foot. 



The beft time of the year for making thefe drains is about Mi- 

 chaelmas, before the heavy rains of the winter begin to fall, be- 

 caufe at this feafon of the year the land is ufually dry, fo that the 

 drains may be dug to a proper depth. 



I 



C c c 2 CHAP. 



