196 LAND DRAINAGE 



age is left that by well. The feasibility of draining 

 by well can be determined only by trial. (See paragraph 

 202.) Figure 89 shows a muck which was drained by tile 

 drain. The area drained was about two acres. The 

 depth of cut at ab was 13 feet. The price paid for digging 

 15 rods, laying the tile and filling of the cut was $2 a 

 rod. It was considered a good investment. In another 

 instance $1 a rod was paid for digging, laying tile, and 

 filling 25 rods of outlet to 8 acres of muck swamp. 



257. Shallow ponds resting upon muck beds. In 

 some cases these shallow ponds are permanent, occupying 

 their beds the year through. In some cases their beds 

 are dry a part of the year. The description of an experi- 

 ence in draining such a pond may be helpful. The pond 

 in question had an area of perhaps two acres and was 

 permanent. Its bed occupied a part of a 6-acre muck area. 

 A shallow open ditch, extending 40 rods through an ad- 

 jacent field, was dug to drain the water from its bed. 

 Later the same open ditch was lowered and extended the 

 length of the muck area, and at a maximum depth of 18 

 inches. It was discovered that the muck was very shallow 

 and rested upon a heavy clay subsoil. The bottom of 

 the 18-inch ditch rested in the clay subsoil at practically 

 every point. After the open ditch had been in operation 

 two years, the muck area was tiled, the main line of the 

 tile occupying the line of the last mentioned open ditch 

 through the muck area. The outlet was accomplished 

 by a line of tile not following the original open drain in 

 the adjoining field. The obtainable fall was so slight 

 that the depth of the main tile drain in the muck area 

 did not exceed three feet at any point, while at some 

 points it did not exceed two feet. The tile drain has 

 been in successful operation ever since its installation 



