DRAINAGE. 



129 



and filled in as above described, — the amount opened at any one 

 time not being enough to allow the accumulation of a dangerous 

 quantity of water. If there is any considerable amount of water 

 in the land, or if it is feared that it may rain during the night, 

 the tile is left with a plug of grass or straw, which will prevent 

 the entrance of dirt. 



Fig. 56 gives a section of a ditch with the work in its different 

 stages. The tile is shown in section. 



And now for the result : — 



Last year, after the draining of Ogdcn Farm was completed, I 

 undertook the drainage of a neighbor's land, employing the same 

 gang of experienced Irish ditchers. The best bargain I could 

 make was for one dollar per rod for digging and back-fillinrr (tile 

 laying not included). The best men earned $3.50 per day, — the 

 average not more than $2.25. Owing to the lateness of the 

 season, the work was suspended until this vear's harvest should 

 be completed. 



This year I hired a gang of tile-drainers from Canada, who had 

 English experience. They work precisely as above described. 

 The price paid is 75 cents per rod for digging, back-filling, and 

 t'lle-ldying (for the whole work complete, although owing to the 

 hard-pan^ much picking is required). The best man among them 

 completes seven rods per day, ($5.25,) and the average is fully 

 five rods (^^3.75). The amount of earth handled (owing to the 

 narrowness of the ditches) is less than one-half of what it v/:is 

 last year, and the work is done with a neatness and completeness 

 that I have never seen equaled. 



What these men are doing others can do as well, and I am 

 satisfied that in simple, heavy clays the whole work of digging and 

 tile-laying can be done for less than 50 cents per rod. 



While tiles are much the best, and generally the cheapest ma- 

 terial that can be used for making underdrains, there are many parts 

 of the country in which they cannot be obtained, and in all cases 

 they require a direct outlay of money — a process against which 

 many farmers have an aversion. For these reasons, (and some- 

 times because it is absolutely necessary to get rid of stones which 



