66 OF DRAINING. 



yards each, and they are fully as productive as the large 

 ones, and rather more so. Thus, it may be said, that not 

 an inch of ground is lost by the drains, and the whole is 

 rendered more fertile and valuable. 



The drains are generally about two feet and a half deep,* 

 and as narrow in the bottom as an ordinary spade can con- 

 veniently work them He always thought it necessary to 

 go down until a solid tilly bottom was found, in order that 

 the water might always run immediately above the till. 

 The drain was filled to the depth of a foot, or rather more, 

 with small stones, the undermost being always carefully laid 

 in by the hand, and the rest thrown in promiscuously above 

 them. The stones were then covered with a little straw, 

 and earth above all. The expence, on an average, cannot 

 be calculated at less than from L.8 to L 10 per Scotch acre; 

 but the outlay has been amply repaid, for every object Mr 

 Andrew had in view has been accomplished. In its former 

 state, the ground could only be ploughed at certain times. 

 The farmer was at the mercy of every season, and found 

 none so dry, that in a certain degree he did not suffer some 

 injury ; but now, he can plough almost at any time, the seed 

 can be put in if there is but a single dry day, and in the ordi- 



* They are cut so deep, as to have what may be called a case in the 

 till, or hard clay, for the stones ; and to obtain that advantage, a consi- 

 derably greater depth was sometimes required. When this could be ob- 

 tained at two feet and a half, Mr Andrew did not think it necessary to 

 go deeper, as he found that the land was completely drained by such 

 means. Shallowness can only be objected to in regard to durability; 

 but the duration of drains does not so much depend upon their depth, as 

 that the water in them has a proper run, and that they are protected from 

 too much water from above. The natural slope of Mr Andrew's farm 

 gave a quick run to the water ; and the second object was obtained by 

 the small ridges, as the water chiefly run in the furrows between the 

 large and small ridges. 



