Other Points in Drainage. 101 



ditch, some two feet deep, and gradually went deeper into the 

 earth, until it reached about six feet, and then gradually became 

 shallower down to three feet. This was the best outlet to be got 

 for the whole field. The front part was slightly lower than 

 the middle, but could be carried through to the back. When 

 there is no water flowing in natural courses, or you wish to run a 

 drain out of the natural channel, as above, or w 7 hen you are in 

 doubt as to the fall to laterals, use a carpenter's or mason's level 

 to settle the matter. The way I did was to get a good ' ' straight 

 edge " about ten feet long. A board one and a half inches thick 

 and about eight inches wide was used. On this, I nailed in the 

 centre, at right angles, for a foot, a strip of board of same size, 

 about four feet long and sharpened at one end. Of course, the 

 other end was nailed on straight edge, as shown in picture. The 

 upper edge of straight edge should be perfectly straight, or as 

 nearly so as a good carpenter can plane it. 



Straight Edge for Leveling. 



I take this straight edge to upper end of drain I am in doubt 

 about and stick foot in the ground firmly and so the level on top 

 shows the straight edge to be exactly level. Then I sight across 

 straight edge, after taking level off, and have some one to hold up 

 a pole at lower end of drain. They mark on this the level of top 

 of straight edge, and then bring it to the straight edge and mark 

 the height of that. The difference between the two marks shows 

 the difference in level or the fall there is. I have used this simple 

 device much, and with care it can be made to give almost the 

 exact fall between two points. If you want to get the difference 

 in level in draining a depression, where you have to go through a 

 bank, why place the straight edge on the highest point and level 

 both ways. If the distance from the ground to level line is, say, 

 six feet at upper end and nine feet at lower, why the fall between 

 the two points is three feet. If you cannot see through, the line 

 is so long, level twice. You need no surveyor or other instrument 

 than this, at least I have not. I have never trusted my eye very 

 much, but rather the straight edge, level, and pole and rule, and 

 the water when w T e come to grade for tiles has always run the way 

 we laid out for it to. Be careful and you can do your own laying 



