114 ON DRAINING. 



present is 32 inches ; xintil very recently, a deptli of 30 

 inclies was the most common and the most generally ap- 

 proved of in Aberdeensliire ; but the opinion is fast gain- 

 ing- gTound among- intelligent agriculturists, that by cutting- 

 the drains from to 12 inches deeper, their efficiencv in 

 drying- the soil would be very materially augmented; and 

 that, therefore, the distance between them may be pro- 

 portionably increased. When the subsoil-ploiig-h is intended 

 to be afterwards used, the minimum depth to Avhich stone- 

 drains are cut is 32 inches below the surface of the ground. 

 Both these important operations — viz., draining- and sub- 

 soiling — are deemed, by many ex})erienced farmers in this 

 district, to be necessary accompaniments to each other ; 

 for, when either is left undone, the maximum advantage 

 cannot be derived from the accomplishment of the other.^ 



Cutthuj. — Tliis part of the process of draining- is very 

 commonl}' peribrmed by contract with one or more skilful 

 workmen, at a stipulated rate of wag-es ])er hundred A'ards : 

 these men being- res])onsible for the work of the labourers 

 employed by them. The filling- in — especially when stones 

 are employed, as it demands the g-reatest care and attention 

 in its performance — is usually conducted under the imme- 

 diate superintendence of the farmer or his steward, by the 

 regular farm-servants, or labourers hired by the day, who, 

 having- no interest in hunying- over the operation, are more 

 likely to execute it in a perfect and substantial manner than 

 men engaged at piece-work. 



With regard to the mode of opening- the drains, the 

 farmers in general are particularly solicitous that the drains, 

 besides being- of the s])ecilied dimensions, shall be straight 

 and even along- the bottom, that a sufficient and uniform 

 fall be secured for the water, and that the sides be regularly 

 and similarly sloped. Previous to the filling--in being- com- 

 menced, or the contractor being- paid for the cutting-, all the 

 drains are individually inspected by the farmer or his steward, 

 in order to be satisfied that all parts of the work have been 

 correctly executed, agreeably to the previous arrangement. 

 Most of the landlords (all of whom in Aberdeenshire defray 



' Any farmer engaged in draining, may readily and fully convince 

 himself, should he be sceptical, of the advantage of deep over shallow drains, 

 by getting one cut some six or eight inches deeper than the rest, and 

 observing, after the first heavy rain, or previous to its occurrence, if the 

 ground happen to be very wet at the time, which draws the largest quan- 

 tity of water. 



