96 TILE DRAINAGE. 



~ 



iron roller in the spring, or plowed and harrowed with the 



rest of the field if that is done. 



THE UPPER ENDS OF LATERALS. 



These should each be stopped up with a small flat stone, 

 completely shutting out the dirt and the undue entrance of 

 water. Water should enter there just as much as at other 

 joints, and no more that is, enter at the narrow crack. 



PROTECTING THE OUTLETS. 



It is well, where water or land vermin abound, to protect 

 the outlets from their entrance by strong galvanized-iron 

 screen work. The following poetic (?) squib illustrates the 

 importance, of such screens. It appeared in The Country 

 Gentleman, Jan. 22, 1880; and since that sedate periodical 

 countenanced it then, we may, perhaps, venture to reprint 

 it now. It was suggested by finding the bones of a rat 

 washed out at a tile outlet. 



THE DOLEFUL TALE OF A RAT. 



Once a rat, in a rain, 



Ran into a drain, 

 And said: " It is perfectly clear, sir, 



It may thunder and pour 



Outside of the door, 

 But it never can storm in here, sir. 



" I'm 4 as snug as a mouse ' 



In this fine dry house, 

 And fixed " just as nice as a pin,' sir; 



For so tight is the wall, 



And the ceiling and all. 

 That the water can never work in, sir. 



" And the door is so small. 



And so narrow the hall, 

 That there's not the least fear of the cat, sir: 



And so round is it dug, 



And so tidy and snug, 

 'Twas just made for the home of a rat, sir ! " 



