ioo Our Farming. 



ment above the level of tiles. It isn't all on my land, and I can- 

 not control it. I do not see as this makes any difference, as long 

 as I keep sediment away from mouth of tiles, so the water can 

 flow out. If the bottom of ditch is a foot higher than outlet, six 

 feet from mouth of tiles, I can see no harm done. The water 

 brings the sediment out and deposits it in this little space and 

 under water. I used to worry some over this state of affairs, but 

 it is all right. There is, however, good fall to the drain, and it is 

 rather small for the water to be carried, and usually, or often, at 

 least, runs full. This outlet in time of a flood is two or three feet 

 under water. 



Now, how shall we fix the outlet to keep frogs, etc., out of 

 drains? This I have fussed and worried over a good deal, too. 

 I have tried most every kind of screen, or way of fixing them. 

 There is one great objection on my land, at least. Little rootlets 

 come down in the water and fill up screen and stop flow of water. 

 I cannot practically use a screen fine enough to keep mice out. 

 Such things with me work best on paper. I have been led to 

 doubt actually whether writers who advise this plan have really 

 tried it. It sounds all right and they put it in. Well, I have a 

 screen over the outlet of my cistern overflow drain, to keep mice 

 out, but, to tell it just as it is, I haven't had any over the other 

 outlets for years, and I have had no trouble. Perhaps I shall have, 

 but I had rather have once or twice, rather than to have to run to 

 the outlets every time it rains and see to the screens. To fix my 

 cistern drain I made a little frame like a slate frame and covered 

 with copper wire screen. This I set firmly up against end of tile 

 and drove down a stake on each side to hold it there. At the end 

 of my land drains I would have to take it up and clean it soon after 

 a big flow of water started in summer, or there would be trouble. 

 I suppose little stray rootlets get in joints and water brings them 

 down ; not many, but enough to clog a fine screen. I have heard 

 of frogs going up into a drain and making trouble, but mine seem 

 to have more sense thus far. You will very likely put screens 

 over your outlet for a time, as I did, you new beginners, and then 

 let it go as I do. Now, see if you don't. 



To locate your main drain I would go out in the spring, when 

 water was flowing, and stake out the line of natural flow. Then 

 I would straighten this as much as I practically could, without 

 making much extra digging. The line of a natural water course 

 may be quite crooked, having often many short crooks in it. 

 Long curves will do in a main, if necessary, but avoid short ones. 

 My side drains run out from the mains, usually at right angles, 

 and directly up the slopes, or as nearly so as is practicable from 

 lay of land. The above is for regular work. Sometimes, to drain 

 a depression above, it is necessary to run the main not in a water 

 course, but through a bank. In draining my twelve acres near 

 town, before I came on the farm, the main began at an open 



