338 THE POTATO 



done under adverse and hostile conditions while 

 carrying a heavy mortgage on unfertile soil much 

 against the proffered advice of self-appointed au- 

 thorities and established doctrines. However, the 

 drainage has paid for itself several times over. 



"As sweet memories of quality and good work 

 linger long after the cost is forgotten, it is there- 

 fore essential that only the best thought, effort, 

 and material be allowed to predominate. There 

 is no work of importance in which this truth is 

 more applicable than in tile drainage, because of its 

 permanency, as everlasting as the hills. Often the 

 first crop increase from potatoes repays the entire 

 expenditure, together with handsome annual re- 

 turns and a heritage imperishable handed down to 

 posterity more valuable the one hundredth year 

 than the first. 



"All sewer pipe and round tile were used. No 

 boards under pipe. Mains are two to four inches 

 lower than laterals. Drains are of good length and 

 depth and so placed that the drainage reaches 

 laterally from drain to drain on time. Standing 

 water is fatal to the potato yield. Three-inch 

 lateral drains are placed fifty-five feet apart and 

 four feet deep. Some soils need aeration as much 

 as others require drainage. For such four-inch 

 tile give better efficiency. The drainage usually 

 costs 50 cents per rod, or $25 per acre. Intakes are 

 provided with silt basins. Outlets and intakes are 

 established in cement abutments. Special screen 

 pipe prevents animals or trash from entering. Ac- 

 curate location maps give all data in detail. 

 Horses and an ordinary three-horse plow were used 

 for the opening and closing of drains. Under 

 average conditions a traction ditcher will lessen the 

 cost one third to one half. 



