SUPPLEMENT. 



AGRICULTURE AS PRACTISED IN DRITAIN. 



1343 



8301. Submain drains. There should be across submain at the bottom of every field or stretch of drains, 

 to receive the water from all the parallel drains ; and such submain drain should always be cut six inches 

 deeper than the drains running into it, that the water may have a free drop, which will prevent the 

 lodgment of mud or. sand at their junctions or mouths. Open cuts or ditches, either as mains or sub- 

 mains should never, except from necessity, be adopted, being apt to get filled with mud and grass, by 

 which the water is thrown back Into the drains, and often chokes them ; besides, the loss of land, annoy- 

 ance in ploughing, constant expense of cleaning, and unsightly appearance of such drains, are serious 



objections. , .,, ... . , , . a 



83(V> Parallel or frequent drains. Having thus provided a main drain, with submains flowing into it. 

 matters are prepared for setting off and for executing parallel or frequent drains in the field. These 

 drains can be executed at anv season when the weather will permit ; but spring and summer are most 

 suitable for the work. It is best to execute the drains when the field is in grass, as they can then be cut 

 in all kinds of weather, and in a more cleanly manner. 



8303 In sellin" out the drains, the first object for consideration is, the nature of the subsoil: it it con- 

 sists of a stiff strong clay, or a dead sandy clav, then the distance from dram to drain should not exceed 

 from ten to fifteen feet ; but if there is a lighter and more porous subsoil, a distance of from eighteen to 

 twenty-four feet will be close enough. When the ridges of the field have been formerly much raised, it 

 suits very well to run a drain up every furrow, which saves some depth of cutting. At whatever distances 

 the drains are placed, thev should be run parallel to the ridges, which is commonly in the steepest de- 

 scent They should always be run quite parallel to each other, and at regular distances, and should be 

 carried throughout the whole field without reference to the wet or dry appearance of portions of the field ; 

 as uniform and complete dryness is the object, and land, which may be considered dry in its natural state 

 will show wet when compared with properly drained land. A three feet drain should be carried along 

 the ends of these drains at the top of the field, and at a distance of about nine feet from the fence, 

 especially if it is a hedge fence. Such a drain is necessary for the growth of the hedge ; but it made 

 nearer than nine feet, the roots are apt to get into the drain, and choke it up by degrees. It is of import- 

 ance to be accurate in setting out the drains as described, as it secures uniformity ot dryness, and m all 

 future operations, or at anytime, it is easy to ascertain the line of any- drain. 



8304 Excavation. The lines of drains having been marked off m the field, the drainer begins bj cut- 

 tin" with a spade on a line; then removing the first layer to the depth of a spittul of about thirteen or 



, From two to two feet and a half from the surface are the best depths for such drains ; the 

 latter always to be preferred. The bottom should be cut as straight and uniform as possible, so that the 

 water may flow freely along at all places, and it is better to cut a little deeper when there is any sudden rise 

 of the surface than to follow it ; and where sudden hollows occur, the cutting may, on the same principle, 

 be less deep : attention to this also admits of after straightening or levelling ot the surface, without injury 

 to the drains. The workmen, in cutting, should throw the earth to the right and left from each alter- 

 nate drain as that allows the plough to go regularly and fully occupied bwtmgs (a Scotch term for a 

 rotation or traverse of the plough) fn filling in the earth, whilst each alternate ridge or space is left for 

 getting in the stones free from the earth thrown out. r.u„ j,„;„„ t„ u th oro 



8305 FilUne. The stones may either be laid down at intervals, by the sides of the drains, to be there 

 broken ■ or being broken in masses at some convenient spot, can be brought by the carls, ready to be 

 filled "n No part of any drain should, if possible, be filled in, till the whole line is cut out and inspected 

 bit the sooner drains are filled, after having been cut. the better. Sometimes, when there is much tendency 

 of the sides to rail in, it becomes necessary to fill in going along. Cutting at the end of summer, when 

 there is little water in the soil, or in a dry season, saves much of this. In solt or sandy bottoms by cutting 



he drains to halt the" depth in the firs, instance 'and allowing them to remain in this stateunt ^e water 

 has drained from the upper stratum of the soil, the lower part may be cut out with more salety from 

 falling!" .The "tones' covering the drains should not be filled in nearer to the surface than eighteen 

 inches, leaving sixteen inches free for deep ploughing. „„;?„„„ the 



8306 Covering the stones. The upper surface of the stones having been made straight and uniform, the 

 w I, ,' le should of neatly and closely covered with thin turfs, cut from the adjoining surface or brought 

 from some suitaWe place. Strict'attcntion to the correct execution ot this operation is of ' the greatest 

 importance as many drains are ruined at once, from the running in of the loose earth Th ck ur fc are 

 ol?ec ionable.from the difficulty of getting them to fit close. Straw rushes, bro«m,wh D ^Oerlike 

 material are very obiectionable, affording no certain or uniform security, and torming a receptacle ror 

 Vermin Peat may be used to advantage. Where the deepest ploughing has been executed, there should 

 afw?« "remain a firm crust of earth undisturbed over the stones of the drain : and no surface water 

 should ev™ tare access to the free wa, of a drain by any direct opening, but should find us way, by per- 

 cXtion of filiation through the subsoil, and should always enter by the sides o. the drains. For this 

 purpose, It may be of advantage to tread or beat down closely the first two inches of soil put over the 

 turf, in order to form the permanent crust. 



common drains mai be taken at 4*. M., or, including a charge to cover proportion of main drams, 5s. 



«$ The "^oSteite exhibits the cost per Scotch acre of draining in this method, at vanou 

 tan^et between tiie drains " as this method of draining forms a permanent imprmeme.it o, the 



will cost, charged at the ordinary rates : — 



| Distance 

 Subsoils to which the Distances between the 

 are applicable. 



For stiff clay subsoil 



Sandy clay 



Feet. 



10 



li 



12 



13 

 14 

 15 



16 

 17 



Roods per 

 Acre. 



48 



«f 



40 



37 



34J 



32 



30 



284 



Cost per Cost per Cost per 



Rood A err Rood 



to Landlord, to Landlord, to Farmer . 



S. rf. 



3 4 



£ s. d. 



8 (' 



7 5 1" 



6 13 4 



6 3 



5 14 



5 6 



5 



1 14 



s d. 

 1 8 



