230 IMPROVEMENTS IX CLAY-LANDS. 



Art. LV.— improvements IN CLAY-LANDS.— DRAINING. 



By Mr. Dodds. 



[At a late meeting of the Dorking club, Mr. Dodds read an excellent essay 

 upon the improvements of clay-lands, in which he pointed out the advan- 

 tages of draining, increa-ing the size of the fields, and the removal of 

 hedge-rows, and a necessary alteration of the rotation of cropping. The 

 following are extracts : — ] 



While draining- is going- on, anotlier evil is to be remedied ; 

 and the operations required for its removal must g-o on 

 simultaneously with the draining-. It is Vv'ell known that 

 many farms, extending- to quite as g-reat a number of acres 

 as the one I am endeavouring- to improve, have their fields 

 averag-ing- not more than five acres each. I would demolish 

 as many of these hedg-e-rows the first year as woidd make 

 enclosures of about 13 acres. The surplus soil I would lay 

 aside in some convenient spot, to be mixed with lime, as 

 soon as the other l-abours of the farm permitted. This com- 

 post I would apply as a dressing- for the said field in the 

 course of being- improved ; taking- care to have it properly 

 prepared by frequent turning- previous to application. There 

 are two objects in demolishing- these hedg-e-rows; to in- 

 crease the size of the fields, and decrease the harbour for the 

 farmer's enemies. First, a saving- of labour is effected, and 

 second, a g-reater crop is secured. As regards draining'^ 

 when the subsoil is stiff and retentive of water, the drains 

 oug-ht not to be placed further apart than 15 feet. In sub- 

 soils less argillaceous, the drains may be put in with effect 

 at twicfe that distance. But now that tiles may be got at 

 such a moderate cost, when compared with what they were 

 a few years ago, it seems advisable that, on stiff clay lands, 

 drains should never be further apart than 15 feet. There 

 are various opinions in regard to the direction in which, 

 drains ought to be placed. In practice, it will be found — 

 and I believe all those who have furrow-drained extensively 

 will bear me out in the argument — that running the trenches 

 right in the line of descent is the most effective method. It 

 is not my object here to go fully into the merits or demerits 

 of any particular system of draining. I shall suppose that 

 the whole field, consisting, as before stated, of 13 acres, has 

 now undergone a thorough clearing, as well as a complete 



