70 THE PEOPLE'S FARM AND STOCK CYCLOPEDIA. 



already laid, first covering them with moist clay to the depth of 

 six inches, and pressing it firmly about them. This clay can be 

 sliced from the sides of the ditch with a spade. Great pains 

 should be taken in laying the tile to see that they fit exactly, 

 as the current will be greatly impeded and the danger of obstruc- 

 tion increased if there are inequalities in the line. There is no 

 danger whatever of laying them so close that the water can 

 not enter. 



With a good team and plow the first ten inches of the drain 

 can be dug more expeditiously and with less labor by plowing; 

 and in filling the ditch after the first six inches of earth is put 

 on, the horse can often be used to advantage, either to turn the 

 soil in with the bar plow or to loosen it with the cultivator, so 

 that it will shovel easily. All the earth should be piled on the 

 drain, as it will be needed when it settles. If the drain is in 

 low land where the water is likely to gather during a heavy 

 rain, a channel must be cut for it at one side, if possible, until 

 the earth has settled, or there will be danger of the tile being 

 washed out. All these necessary precautions should be attended 

 to at once, as if neglected then, they are often never done and 

 the entire work may be endangered. The upper end of the last 

 tile should always be closed with a flat stone or brick before 

 filling. In a clay soil no covering of the joints will be neces- 

 sary, but in sandy, as other loose land, it may be needed, and 

 nothing better can be had for the purpose than pieces of sod 

 cut from a stiff clay soil, but fine hay will answer. 



Spouty places are sometimes encountered where the bottom 

 of the drain is so yielding that the tile can not be laid evenly. 

 In such places a fence board can be placed in the bottom, or if 

 good gravel can be had, enough of it can be placed in the drain 

 to give a solid foundation. It is best to deaden or remove all 

 trees from the line of the drain, and willows are especially dan- 

 gerous. Experience has shown that it is not safe to have a 

 willow tree within seventy-five feet. If these trees are left 

 near the drain they will often in two years entirely fill it with 

 fibrous roots. The elm is nearly as bad as the willow. If the 

 drain has been properly constructed and all trees removed, the 



