322 Ground Water, Wells and Farm Drainage. 



chosen the men should be provided with first class spades, 

 kept sharp and free from rust. The spade which gives the 

 best satisfaction has a long, thin, narrow and curved blade. 

 The curvature is of first importance in giving greater stiff- 

 ness and allowing the blade to be made thinner and lighter. 

 The spade should be narrow and thin to enable the user to 

 force it full length into the soil with the pressure of the 

 foot and so as to be able to leave the bottom of the ditch 

 narrow, removing as little earth as possible. 



In Fig. 131 are shown two forms of spades, four tile 

 hoes, which are used in finishing the bottom of the ditch 

 and removing the loose earth, and a tile hook, used in plac- 

 ing the tile. The series of half tones shows these different 

 tools in use. 



394. Making the Ditch Narrow and Straight. To make 

 the ditch straight a strong light line is stretched taut near 

 the surface and 4 inches back from the edge. If the ditch 

 is to be only 2.5 to 3 feet deep it need be no wider at the 

 top than one foot, as shown by the length of tile in Fig. 

 139. Where the ditch must be 4.5 to 5 feet and receive a 

 6 inch tile, as shown in Fig. 141, it must have a width at 

 the top of 15 to 18 inches. 



The ditcher is trained to cut the walls straight with an 

 even slope to the bottom so as to leave a straight line 

 along the bottom to receive the tile. In Fig. 140 it will be 

 seen that four men are working in line to complete the 

 depth of the ditch which is 4.5 feet at the place. 



395. Shaping the Bottom and Bringing It to Grade. In 

 Fig. 141 the man in the foreground is using the tile hoe to 

 clean out the last loose earth and to bring the bottom to 

 grade and proper shape to receive the tile. The grade is 

 secured by stretching the ditcher's line tight, and on the 

 slant the bottom of the ditch is to be given, and at a known 

 hight above it. It is then only necessary for the exper- 

 ienced man to use a measuring rod to secure the depth and 

 grade desired. 



