326 SKETCHES OF RURAL AFFAIRS. 



such as rushes and flags. Or if these tokens do not ap- 

 pear, the soil itself will betray the nature of its malady. 

 The ploughed land in early spring will show, even in 

 the driest weather, patches or stripes of dark-coloured 

 earth, while all the rest is of a light brown colour. And 

 although, if dry weather lasts for several weeks, these 

 patches may entirely disappear, there is not the less 

 necessity for adopting some means of getting rid of the 

 lurking evil. It is on account of stagnant water re- 

 maining in the soil all the winter, that the summer crops 

 are injured, for the heat which is required to nourish 

 the crops, is employed in evaporating superfluous mois- 

 ture. These signs of wetness are more evident in ar- 

 able land than in pasture ; but, generally speaking, the 

 presence of rushes, and the coarseness of the grass, will 

 bespeak attention to the subject of drainage. 



The ancients were not ignorant of the benefits of 

 draining their land. In eastern countries, from the 

 very nature of the climate, irrigation has been practised 

 rather than draining : but the Romans were very dili- 

 gent in this art. Among their earliest agricultural 

 writings are found particular directions for making open 

 and covered drains, stating the necessary size and shape. 

 The draining of springs, and the taking away of surface 

 water were both taught. For the former, the drain was 

 left open at both ends, and the water from the spring 

 was carried entirely out of the field ; for the latter, they 

 had open ditches in stiff soils, and these they were 

 careful to keep clear, and in good order. When the 

 autumn rains came, all the servants were sent out with 

 iron tools, to open the drains, turn the water into its 

 proper channels, and take care that it flowed away from 

 the corn-fields. 



We have no distinct mention of draining in this coun- 

 try before the time of William the Conqueror, although 

 it may have been practised at a much earlier period. 

 In that reign it is recorded that the king's chamberlain, 

 the Lord of Ermine and Deeping, drained a great extent 



