LAYING OUT A DRAIN OR SYSTEM 109 



clay soils 8 inches is long enough for the grade stakes, 

 while in looser soils, such as mucks, the length should be 

 12 to 15 inches. The grade stakes should be driven in 

 straight lines, 2 inches back from the intended edge of 

 the ditch. If the ditch is not to be straight throughout 

 its entire length, the breaks should be made if possible 

 at a point or points established by the grade stakes. 

 They should all be driven on the same side of the ditch ; 

 at least this should be true for any one section of the 

 drain. They should be driven so that the tops stand 

 about \ inch above the ground in each case, and to secure 

 uniformity in height above the ground, it is a good plan 

 to carry a small piece of J-inch board, 6 inches by 12 inches, 

 and to lay this board on the ground next to the stake and 

 drive the stake until its top shall stand just even with 

 the upper surface of the board. In this way the effects 

 of the little inequalities in the soil are overcome. These 

 stakes should be driven so that their greatest width 

 stands parallel with the edge of the drain. 



149. Finders. About 6 inches back from each grade 

 stake should be driven another stake, commonly called 

 a finder. This should be 18 inches to 2 feet long, |- inch 

 thick, and 2 to 3 inches wide, and should be driven from 

 4 to 6 inches into the ground. The finder assists in the 

 subsequent locating of the grade stakes, and sometimes 

 has recorded upon it data concerning the ditch. These 

 data are usually placed upon the finder for the benefit 

 of the man who digs the ditch, and may include such items 

 as the depth of the ditch at this point, the distance of 

 the stake from the terminal of the ditch, the height of 

 the grade bar, the boning line, and the like. 



150. Laying out a main. The procedure in laying 

 out a main will not differ from that in laying out a single 



