TILE DRAINAGE. 11<> 



20 ditches, 5H rods each U63 rods of 2 inch tile at 16 cts. per rod.* 185.60 



( 27 rods of 3-inch tile at 32 cts. per rod 8.64 



*< 27 rods of 4-inch tile at 48 cts. per rod 12.96 



f 44 days' work of common ditchers at $1.12J per day 49.50 



22 days' work of head ditcher at $1.50 per day 33.00 



Cost of plowing ditch with four-horse team 7.00 



Cost of tilling with two-horse team 3.00 



Cost of drawing tile from the yard or car, one mile distant 10.00 



Tse of tools 3.00 



Allow for hindrances, interruptions, and extra stony spots (time). 10.00 

 Total .$322.70 



Dividing- by 15 we have $21 51 as the entire cost per acre. 



If the field is very uneven, so that the laterals can not be 

 parallel with either of its sides, or even with each other, or so as 

 to require deep digging in places, or a greater number of main 

 drains and junctions, the cost will be increased. Still, the plow 

 can be used to great advantage even then by simply turning out 

 one furrow or two each way and sinking a third as described, 

 wherever a drain is to run. In this case the four-horse team 

 should be used all the time. I know of no field near here which 

 can not be drained 2% feet deep, 2 rods apart, for less than $25.00 

 per acre. Indeed, most farmers could drain three or four acres 

 each year with almost no cash outlay except for the tile. The 

 draining is at a time of year when little other farmwork can be 

 done advantageously; and I know of few, if any, clay fields which 

 \vould not be benefited more than that for cultivation and rota- 

 tion of crops. If even a part of each farm is tile-drained we can 

 follow mixed farming instead of dairying exclusively; and I know 

 whole townships on the Western Reserve which I think are being 

 slowly impoverished by the latter, as at present pursued. 



W. I. CHAMBERLAIN. 



I may add, that the total average cost per acre of all my 

 drainage, even where less digging and filling than here 

 described was done by team and more by hand, and where 

 prices of labor have been higher than$1.12i per day, has been 

 about $28.00 per acre where the laterals are 2 rods apart (33 

 feet), and about $lo.OO to $16.00 where the laterals are 3 rods 

 apart (49i feet). Tiles are somewhat cheaper now than then, 

 especially the three-inch and four-inch sizes. 



PROPER DEPTH FOR TILES. 



As already incidentally remarked, I believe 30 inches is, on 

 the whole, the best depth for tenacious and tough clayey 

 soils. I have some 20 acres laid 3 feet, but I now lay only 30 



* These si/es cost somewhat less now. 



