NEW KIND OF TILES. 263 



employed. If stones are to be hauled two or three rililes, then 

 perhaps wooden drains would be cheaper, and will last five or six 

 years. But if stones are abundant on the field to be under- 

 drained, or in the adjoining fields, it would perhaps be a matter 

 of economy to employ the stone, for two reasons. First, stone 

 will make a drain which will serve the object intended ; and, 

 second, the surface of the field will be cleared of a great nuisance 

 and hindrance to a more perfect system of cultivation. Stone 

 drains should never be made less than three feet deep and one 

 foot wide at the bottom. Stone should be filled in to the depth 

 of one foot at least, and then be covered with brush, straw, 

 leaves, or some such material, so as to prevent the dirt from 

 falling in and filling up the interstices. 



The manufacture of drain tile has of late been very much on 

 the increase, so that where material for the manufacturing is 

 easily obtained they can be furnished at less cost than stone, and 

 when laid down answer the object sought for perhaps better than 

 anything. The cost at present is about two dollars and a half 

 per hundred for three-inch tile, and less according to the size. 



There is a new method of making tile from cement and gravel 

 that I think supersedes all others for the main drain and out- 

 let. These are- made two feet in length, of any size, perfectly 

 round, and when properly cured will last a lifetime. These are 

 better adapted for conveying off surplus water than for drain- 

 ing, they being not so porous as those made with clay, and 

 after being made a suitable time become very hard, almost 

 like stone. The cost of these at the manufactory is considera- 

 bly more than clay tile, perhaps twice as much ; but considering 

 their durability, I think them the cheapest for the main drain 

 and outlets. 



Perhaps, at this point, I can better illustrate this subject by 

 giving an extract from the experience of one who has for over 

 thirty years been intimate with all methods of draining. I 

 refer to Mr. Johnston, of Geneva, N. Y. At one time esteemed 

 a fanatic by his neighbors, he has come of late years to be gen- 

 erally known as the father of tile-drainage in America. After 

 over thirty years of precept and twenty of example, he has the 

 satisfaction of seeing his favorite theory fully accepted, and to 

 some extent practically applied throughout the country. Mr. 

 Johnston is a Scotchman, who came to this country over forty 



