ON THOROUGH-DRAINIXG. 



79 



and a bad tile destroyed tlie whole drain. But there were 

 situations in which stones were not to be had, and it then 

 became a matter of necessity to use the tile. He then 

 discussed the question of the size of the tube of the tile to 

 be used, and g-are it as his opinion that the bore shoidd 

 never be less than one and a half to two inches. The tile 

 and sole were very good, but it was more expensive than the 

 sing-le tube. With regard to tlie stones, they should be 

 broken to about the size of an eg'g- ; and upon many lands 

 they would g-et a sufficient quantity of stones to do the 

 whole of their drainag-e. They woxdd be required, however, 

 to be freed of earth. When he first recommended broken 

 stones for the bottoms of drains, he considered that twelve 

 inches of them woidd be necessary ; but on farther con- 

 sideration of the subject, and from the experience which he 

 had had, he was quite satisfied that a g-reat deal fewer 

 stones would serve the purpose, if properly executed. He 

 found that from six to eight inches of stones, well broken, 

 were quite sufficient to maintain the drain open. But one 

 of the most important points in regard to the formation of 

 drains was, to secure them well above, so that the water 

 might g-et into them free of sludge. Many people com- 

 plained of this, and straw and other similar substances were 

 put in, which, being perishable substances, quickly decayed, 

 and assisted to destroy the drain. Turf, in his opinion, was 

 infinitely preferable, which should be covered with four or 

 five inches of the stiffest clay they could get. He wanted 

 no water to get directly into the drain. He next referred 

 to the propriety of ploughing down the ridges, after the soil 

 was properly drained ; but recommended that this should not 

 be done too rapidly, by which the higher parts would be 

 rendered sterile. He next referred to the construction of 

 main drains, and illustrated his observations by reference to 

 a diagTani. He then entered upon the subject of turf-drain- 

 ing in peat land, of which he had had some experience lately, 

 and exhibited the various implements used for that purpose. 

 The operation consisted of cutting out at once, by a par- 

 ticular process, from twenty-five to thirty inches of the turf, 

 and laying it to one side of the drain. A portion of the 

 peat was then cut by a narrower spade, and laid upon the 

 opposite side of the drain. After this, another cutting, still 

 narrower, was thrown out, and then the peat and the turf — 

 with the exception of the lust portion — were put back pre- 

 cisely where they were taken out. Some people thought 



