EXPERIMENTS IN DRAINING. 277 



necessary where the thaws of early spring or heavy 

 summer rains are apt to collect large quantities of 

 water on the surface. To prevent a wash of the sur- 

 face in such places I have at regular distances filled 

 the ditch directly over the tiles with small stones 

 for a length of from 12 to 18 inches, the stones to 

 rise a little above the surface to prevent the covering 

 of the stones by the plow ; through these stones the 

 surface water will pass rapidly down into the tiles 

 and be carried off at once. When the tiles are laid 

 in the ditches with regularity and care, the earth is 

 thrown in by a plow, having a double-tree nine and 

 a half feet long, to enable a horse to go on each side 

 of the ditch, which is a rapid and economical way 

 of filling them. In regard to cost I find that drains 

 constructed with two-inch tiles can be finished com- 

 plete for 30 cents per rod ; yet something must 

 depend on the digging, whether the earth be hard 

 or soft, and the distance to draw the tiles; mine 

 have been drawn five miles, and I find that two- 

 inch tiles are large enough except for main and sub- 

 main drains. In my own case I was compelled to 

 feel my own way and discover the best system and 

 best adaptation to my lands; consequently the drains 

 have cost me more than they would if I were to 

 construct them with my present experience. In 



