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fides of the drains, and confequently requiring them to be 

 made much nearer or clofer together. 



The flratum alfo through which the drains are to be made, • 

 is a point deferving very particular attention ; for when it is 

 fuch as forms a very clofe and retenfive clay, the drains 

 fhould be made proportionably near to each other, fliallow, 

 and filled with ftraw only ; it being totally unnecefTary to 

 tife wood, or any more durable material upon land, where 

 the fides of the drains are not likely to crumble in ; upon a 

 foil like this, the drains Ihould feldom exceed the dillance 

 of three or four yards apart, and twenty inches deep, or 

 fuch a depth as may be the mofl: conveniently obtained, by 

 firft opening the drains with the plough, {hovelling the bot- 

 tom of the lowefl furrow, and then digging one fpit only 

 with the land ditch fpade; and which, materials included, 

 will coft about 2s. 6d. per fcore rods. 



Drains formed in this manner, through the tough and 

 ' retentive clays, will be found in a Ihort time after the work 

 is finifhed, to have formed over the flraw with which the 

 drain was filled, an arch of fufficient ftrength to fupport the 

 incumbent weight of the foil, and the cafual traffic of the 

 fipld. In 12 or 18 months it may be obferved, that the ftraw 

 being of one uniform fubftance, is all rotted and carried 

 away, leaving a clear pipe through the land in every drain, 

 into which the paffage of the water may have been much 

 facilitated, by a due attention to the filling of the drains 

 with the moft friaWe and porous parts of the furface the 

 .field might have afforded. From the price above ftated to 

 • 2s. 6d. per rod (as noticed in the journal at Southminfter) 

 is the expence, at which this moft important of all improve- 

 ments to the wet heavy lands is conducted in this county. 



SECTION 



