DRAINAGE. 



127 



I A line is stretched to mark one S'de of the ditch, and the 

 sod is removed to a spade's depth (15 inches wide) for a length of 

 about two rods, and a ditch is dug abou' 18 inches deep, with a 

 narrow bottom. 2. A ditching spade, (Fig. 55, «,) 20 inches long in 

 the blade, 6 inches wide at the top, and 4 inches wide at the point, 

 — made of steel and kept sharp, — is forced into its whole length, 

 and the earth thrown out. Of course it will be necessary in 

 very hard ground to do some picking, but it is surprising to see 



a b c e d 



I 



'Al.i 



N— 



M 



''r^ . 



^^^;.s/ 



\. 



fig. 55 — Tile-draining Implements. 



with what ease a man with an iron shank screwed to the sole of 

 his boot will work the sharp point of this spade into an obdurate 

 hard-pan. The loose earth that escaped the spade is removed by 

 a scoop (Fig. 55, b) 4 inches wide, which the workman, walking 

 backward, draws toward him until it is full, swinging it out to 

 dump its load on the bank. In this way he gets down 3 feet, and 

 leaves a smooth floor on which he stands. 3. Commencing 

 again at the end next to the main, with a narrower, stronger, and 



