\y^ 





water, then to dig a ditch so deep as to find a hard bottom, on which to lay the tile ; yet I hare 

 laid niajiy tiles on clay, and they have done well. On my farm this depth is generally found at two 

 and a half to three feet The distance between the drains is regulated by the character of the soil ; 

 if it is open or porous, drains three or four rods apaii; may thoroughly drain it ; while on more 

 tenacious soils, two rods apart may be needed. In most cases, where my fields lay nearly level, it 

 has been found necea«ary to construct the drains nearer to each other, adopting as a rule, that the 

 drains should always reach the point of the field where water is indicated to rise, and tliat is always 

 at or near the highest part of the field, although that may only be observed when there is ranch 

 water in the earth and the springs full, or when the field is m wheat or clover. At such elevations 

 I put my drains deeper and near each other, to make sure to keep the water all under ground, using 

 smaller tile leading to the main or subraain drains. This rule has been important ; for when opening 

 ditches on the low grounds, the water has flowed with such force as to induce most people to believe 

 tliat it was derived from springs close by, when possibly the spring may be some sixty or eighty rods 

 distant, at or near the most elevated part of the field, which, when reached, may save mnch expense 

 in draining the lower lands. This shows the necessity of thoroughly examining in the wettest season 

 the laud to be drained. The main drains occupy the valleys or lowest grounds, receiving the lateral 

 drains and collected water. They are constructed of larger tiles, and discreticm and care are vary 

 necessary to proportion the main drains to tJie quantity of water to he discharged. In several instances 

 I have found it necessary to lay a double row of four inch tile in main drains, to carry off the quan- 

 tity of water collected by the smaller tile. I have generally used the half round, or horse shoe tile, 

 as they are called. The four inch tile are in most cases large enough for main drains, and they will 

 discharge a body of water far greater than most persons would believe, unless they witneraed their 

 action. There may be places where larger tiles ai-e needed. In one instance I found it necessary to 

 use six inch tiles for sixty rods, and laid them in double rows. This would only be necessary where 

 the thaws of early spring or heavy summer rains are apt to collect large quantities of water on the 

 surface. To prevent a wash of the surface in such places, I have at regular distances filled the ditch 

 directly over the tiles with small stones for a length of from twelve to eighteen inches, the stones to 

 rise a little above the surface to prevent their being covered by the plow. Throi^gh these stones the 

 surface water will pass rapidly down into the tiles, and be carried off at once. When the tiles are 

 laid in the ditches with regularity and care, the earth is thrown in by a plow having a doubletree 

 nine and a half feet long, to enable a hoi-se to go on each side of the ditch, which is a rapid and 

 economical way of filling them. In regard to cost, I find that drains constructed with two inch tiles 

 can be finished complete for thirty cents per rod ; yet something must depend on the digging, 

 whether the earth be hard or soft, and the distance to draw the tiles. Mine have all been drawn five 

 miles, and I find that two inch tile are large enough except for main and subroain drains." 



" About six years ago I began to drain a field on the boundary line between Mr. DELAFTELi) aiui 

 myself. The field contains about twenty acres, of which six were then subject to drainage. The 

 six acres had seldom given a remunerating crop, even of grass. After draining the six acres, the 

 whole field was plowed and prepared for corn, two acres being reserved for potatoes. The usual 

 care was given to the cultivation of the whole crop, which during its growth showed a marked differ- 

 ence between the drained and undrained portions of the field. Tlie yield of this field proved to be 

 tlie largest ever raL=ed, as I believe, in the county, the product being eighty-three bushels and over, 

 per acre. When the corn was husked and housed, it was weighed and measured in the ear, and 

 allowing seventy -five pounds to the bushel for corn and cob, as has been customary in this region, 

 the product was as above stated. This field attracted much attention from my neighboi-s and other 

 gentlemen from more distant places. It was examined at the time of draining, and after plowing, 

 both the first and second season, permitting the parties to walk on the drained parts without any 

 undue moisture, while all other undrained land in the neighborhood was muddy ; and, as before 

 stated, tlie corn was found to be far more vigorous in the plant and abundant in the grain. In the 

 following season after the corn I cropped it with barley, and found that the drained land produced 

 altogether the finest plant and the best yield of grain. When the barley was harvested, I prepared 

 the field and cropped it with wheat. Tlie difference again was so striking and distinct in favor of 

 the drained land, that I felt the propriety of thoroughly draining the whole field, whicli was com- 

 pleted without loss of time, at a cost of twenty -two dollars per acre. I then plowed and sowed with 

 barley and seeded with clover. Of the latter I cut a very large cjrop last summer, and not one square 

 foot of the clover froze out ; and now I can rely on a good crop of anything I may sow or plant." 



Mr. Johnston has made sixteen miles of tile drains on his farm, and is so far satisfied 

 with the results that he drained six acres last fall, and intends to do so till there is not 

 a wet spot on the farm. He finds it diflScult to state in figures the increased value of 

 the drained land ; but on such land as he has, if he gets two croj^s of wheat from the 

 drained land, the excess of yield is sufficient to cover all expenses of draining, and 

 sometimes the increase of one crop on the drained over the undrained land, moi-e than 

 pays for the cost of draining. Mr. Yeomans, after detaiHng his mode of laying tile, 

 which is very similar to Mr. Johnston's, concludes thus: 



