All lands which are made wet by epringt or 



through which the water of rains don n,,t readilv 

 settle away, must be drained artificially before they 

 can be cultivated to the best advanl 



The advantages of under-drzins over wwj-drains 

 are very great. 



When open drains are used, much water i 

 into them immediately from the surface, and < 

 with it fertilizing parts of the soil, while their I,,.,], 

 are often puddled by the running water and baked 

 by the heat of the sun, so that they become water 

 tight, and do not admit water from the lower parts 

 of the soil. 



The sides of these drains are often covered with 

 weeds, which spread their seeds throughout the whole, 

 field. Open drains are not only a great obstruct imi 

 to the proper cultivation of the land, but ti 

 much waste of room, as we can rarely plu\v nearer 

 than within six or eight feet of them. 



There are none of these objections to the use of 

 under-drains, as these are completely covered, and do 

 not at all interfere with the cultivation of the sur- 

 face. 



Under-drains may be made with brush, stones, or 

 tiles. Brush is a very poor material, and its u- 

 hardly to be recommended, except when a better 

 material cannot be afforded. Small stones are bet- 

 ter, and if these be placed in the bottom of the 

 trenches, to a depth of eight or ten inches, and 

 ered with a little litter, having the earth packed well 

 down on them, they make very good drains. But 



