ON DRAINING. 115 



a considerable proportion of the expense of draining-) have a 

 man specially for the purpose of examining- the drains in 

 course of formation on their respective estates, and seeing- 

 that the}^ are constructed in a correct and substantial man- 

 ner. It is, perhaps, needless to observe in this place, that in 

 every case the opening- of the drains is commenced at the 

 lower, and the filling' at the higher level, in order that any 

 water which may happen to be present ma}^ thus be per- 

 mitted to escape, which not only insures a dry footing- for 

 the labourers, but also serves to indicate any defects in the 

 work already accomplished. 



Should the land about to be drained be in g-rass at the 

 time, the work is usually beg'un by stretching- a line in the 

 proper direction, and marking- oif with a spade the breadth 

 of the drain at the top. The surface sods are then dug- oxxt, 

 and placed on one side ; and in some instances they are cut 

 with care, in order that they may subsequently be available 

 for covering- the stones before returning- the earth. The 

 tools employed in draining- are, two different sizes of spades, 

 a pickaxe, a footpick, and a narrow shovel or scoop for 

 throwing- out the loose earth from the bottom of the drain. 

 The footpick, or '' tramp-pick," as it is likewise termed, is a 

 most effective instrument for breaking- up the indurated 

 subsoil, through which the spade alone could not easily be 

 made to penetrate, as also for loosening- any stones that may 

 be met with. 



Sto}>e-Dmins. — The stones employed in draining- are pro- 

 cured from two sources, viz., the surface of the g-round, and the 

 quarry. The small round stones annually g-athered off the 

 g-i-ass-fields, as well as those broug-ht to the surface by the 

 action of the tillage implements while preparing- the land for 

 g-reen crops, are carted into heaps at convenient situations, with 

 the intention of being- subsequently employed (if necessary) 

 in draining-. The fields, in most parts of the county, contain 

 a g-reat number of such stones, and they are considered to 

 be peculiarly well adapted for draining- ; they also constitute 

 an economic material, since it is necessary, or proper at all 

 events, to collect and remove them off the ground ; and they 

 require little breaking- preparatory to being put into the 

 drains. 



Mr. Sullivan adverts to an objection to filling- drains w-ith 

 stones broken to nearly the size of road metal, particularly 

 in lands abounding- in ferruginous matter, the deposit from 

 w^hich, sooner or later, completely obstructs the passag-e of 



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