334 



SKETCHES OF RURAL AFFAIRS. 



short cylinder or collar to be drawn over it so as to 

 cover the part where two tiles meet ; another plan is to 

 make the ends of the cylinders lobed or waved so as to 

 fit into each other. But these, and similar contrivances, 



PIPE-TILE, WITH LOBED E^DS. 



all involve extra expense, and are not desirable, on that 



account. A cheaper kind 

 of pipe-tile is that in 

 which the shape resem- 

 bles a united sole and 

 tile, and of which there 

 are also several varieties. 

 There is a form of draining, not yet very extensively 

 employed, called plug-draining. It is advantageous on 

 heavy soils where stones are scarce, and where the sub- 

 soil is of unctuous clay. A narrow trench is cut in the 



IMPROVED ECRU OF PIPE-TILE. 



PLUG-DRAINING. 



clay, into which plugs of wood are fitted, having a chain 

 attached to one end. After the clay and earth are well 

 beaten down among these plugs, they are drawn forward 

 by means of the chain, leaving a hollow drain in the 

 clay itself. In this way piece by piece is formed as the 

 plugs are drawn onward in the trench. 



