ON DRAINING RUNNING SANDS. 123 



the cost of tliorougli-draining- during- tlie currency of a 

 nineteen years' lease, if the increase of produce he alone taken 

 into consideration ; hut several other advantag-es are also 

 derivahle from efficient drainag-e, to which, however, it is 

 xumecessary to advert in this place. 



Farmer's Magazine, Nov. 184G. 



Art. XXX.— on THE BEST METHOD OF DRAINING 

 RUNNING SANDS. 



By Mr. Likton. 



[This is the subject of a Prize Essay, in which the mode of procedure in 

 the particular circumstances is well and fully described. The writer gives 

 an account of the results of twelve years' experience.] 



During that period I have heen engaged in draining- a 

 g-reat variety of soils, hut especially the running- sand ; the 

 greatest part of which had heen previously drained, hut on 

 account of the shallowness of the drains, which were not 

 more than from 12 to 18 inches deep, their having- been 

 covered with perishable materials, and not having- bottoms, 

 which allowed the moles to do g-reat mischief by their sub- 

 terraneous burrowing-, had become entirely choked up, and 

 consetpiently useless. 



The land in question has a very lig-ht g-rey, sandy surface. 

 The subsoil is white sand, which varies in depth from 12 

 inches to 6 feet, beneath which lies, of a considerable thick- 

 ness, a bed of marly clay. To attempt here to fix any 

 stated depth at which drains should he laid is in my opinion 

 absurd, as that is a question which can only be determined 

 by ascertaining- the de])th at Avhich the water lodges ; which 

 may be known by dig-g-ing- holes in different parts of the field 

 previous to commencing- the work, and as soon as the stratum 

 wdiich contains the water is cut throug-h, it will at once be 

 seen by both sand and water g-ushing- into the opening", and 

 undermining- the earth around it. For the most part, when 

 mv drains are cut to the depth of about 18 inches, a small 

 stratum of the quick running- sand and water is found, and 

 at about 18 or 20 inches deeper one containing- a much 

 larg-er quantity of water is cut into, which is about 3 inches 



