336 SKETCHES OP RURAL AFFAIRS. 



It will be impossible here to go into many details 

 respecting deep draining, nor will it be necessary, since 

 the principal differences refer simply to the greater depth 

 and smaller number of the drains, and to the skill with 

 which they are placed in the most important spots. On 

 account of the depth of these drains, there is sometimes 

 a tendency in the sides to fall in before the bottom is 

 reached. In this case, short thick planks are placed on 

 each side, and are kept in their places by props across 

 the breadth of the drain. The conduit at the bottom 

 of a deep drain should always be built securely, by a 

 person who understands the construction of dry-stone 

 walls, and he should take care to lay flat stones at the 

 bottom, to act as a sole to the drain, and also to cover 

 in the top of the conduit with flat stones. Stones are 

 then filled in promiscuously, either by hand or from 

 carts : in the latter case, boards must be placed in a 

 slanting position, to break the fall of the stones, and 

 thus to save the di'ain itself as well as the conduit from 

 injury. As in the case of the drains already described, 

 a layer of some dry material, such as turf, dried leaves, 

 or coarse grass, is put over the stones before the loose 

 earth is returned. 



JUMPER. 



It will sometimes happen that even a drain six feet 

 deep will not reach the seat of the water which it is 

 desirable to withdraw from the soil. In this case, boring 



