OF DRAINING. 61 



jured the ground, as it stopped the labour in the early part 

 of the season, encouraged the growth of natural grass, and 

 kept the surface in a sour state, which in time of great 

 drought became very hard and unproductive. But when 

 this kind of soil is properly drained, it soon appears what 

 can be effected by this first and greatest of all improve- 

 ments : it makes the land so free and tender, that half the 

 abour prepares the ground for the crop ; less seed and ma- 

 nure is necessary ; and a more abundant crop may be de- 

 pended upon in all seasons, as neither drought nor damp 

 have any effect upon it. 



Mr Allan of Craigcrook, also, considers draining to be 

 the first improvement in agriculture, and that a large pro- 

 portion of the land in Scotland, is ruined for want of it. 

 He has drained land completely, where it was thought quite 

 impossible, and has improved land, by that operation, that 

 was not valued at 5 s. per acre, so as to be worth from L. 4> 

 to L. 5. Could money, labour, skill, or industry, be more 

 usefully employed ? 



Mr Allan farther observes, that many people do not 

 make the drains so deep as they ought to be ;* where the 

 levels will admit of it, drains ought to be at least four feet 

 deep, two feet wide at the bottom, and three feet wide at 

 the top, and filled up with three feet of stones. Many, 

 however, would object to such a drain, as too large and ex- 

 pensive. He affirms, that he has derived more benefit from 

 draining a field, than he would have from both dunging 

 and liming it ; that is to say, the field carried more grain 



* It is impossible to fix the deepness of drains to carry off springs. 

 One invariable rule is, to cut through the stratum of gravel or sand in 

 which the spring is found, and until a firm hard bed is got for the bot- 

 tom of the drain. A great many drains are cut by far too shallow, to be 

 of any use without boring. 



