218 



EXPERIENCES IN LAND DRAINAGE. 



were explored by Englishmen, Chinese, and Malays, 

 in search of the gum-exuding tree. Their efforts 

 were ai;tively seconded by the natives; and in a short 

 time it was discovered that the supply, of which 

 some doubts were first entertained, was almost inex- 

 haustible. An acute observer has remarked the sin- 

 gular fact, that although the English, Portuguese, 

 and Dutch, had, one or the other of them, retained 

 possession of the islands on which the trees grew, for 

 more than nine centuries and a half, still its valuable 

 qualities were not discovered till 1842. The rise of 

 this new trade gave a ereat impetus to the activity 

 of the Oriental islanders; and the value of the gum 

 becoming fully known, eager search was made from 

 island to island, and among the forests of the Archi- 

 I)elago; aiid large profits were made by the sarmin 

 gongs, or chiefs, of the aboriginal tribes, who exacted 

 from the gum hunters a revenue on all they found. 

 Sufficient profits were left even after this deduction, 

 to stimulate the cupidity of the natives, and the port 

 of Singapore was speedily supplied with the article 

 in great quantities. 



In its crude state, gutta percha is entirely dissimi- 

 lar and different from Indian-rubber, having no re- 

 semblance to the elastic gum whatever; nor are its 

 cheinical or mechanical properties the same. It is a 

 fibrous material, much resembling the inner coating 

 of white oak bark, is extremely tenacious, and with- 

 out ehtsticity, or much flexibility. It can be melted 

 and cooled at will, without injury for future opera- 

 tions. It is a non-conductor of heat, cold, and elec- 

 tricity. It is not affected by coming in contact with 

 oils, (.r other fatty substances, or with sulphuric, mu- 

 rialic, or other acids. When exposed to the action 

 of liuiling water, it contracts and becomes soft like 

 dough or paste, and can be moulded in any desired 

 shape, which form it will rigidly retain when cold. 

 It has an exceedingly fine grain, and its oily prope: 

 ties make it a perfect repellant of liquids. When 

 first treated with water, alcohol, and ether, and then 

 precipitated, it yields a substance consistent with iln 

 own common properties. In nearly every one of the 

 above mentioned qualities, it has the advantage of 

 caoutchouc. 



'I'he following is an analysis of the two substances, 

 by William Allen Miller, M. 1)., F. R. S. : 



perseverance of Yankee ingenuity — by which it has 

 been accomplished — ^yes, and even beyond the pre- 

 dictions of the most sanguine of the scientific savans, 

 who first examined the specimens forwarded in 1843. 

 — U. 8. Magazine. 



Gutta percha, Rirbon, 83.71 



Hjirogen, 12.36 

 Oxj-gen, 3.93 



CaautdKmt, Carbon, 86.39 



Hydrogen, 12 08 

 Oxygen, 1.53 



The specific gravity of gutta percha is 975, that 

 of water being 1,000. 



Various capabilities of gutta percha were tested, 

 immediately on the reception of the samples for- 

 warded by Dr. Mo.ntoomerie to London, and after a 

 time, companies and individuals engaged in producing 

 manufactures from it, for which there was, and still 

 is, a constantly increasing demand. Some patents 

 were granted, but the fact must be admitted, that 

 although it was adapted to a large number of useful 

 purposes, and made in various kinds of wares and 

 chattels, still no process of vulcanization, or in any 

 way changing the propertie.3 (further than cleansing) 

 has been discovered or yet worked on the continent 

 of Europe. The grand distinction of accomplishing 

 this proud achievment was left for the unyielding 



EXPESEENCES IN LAND DRAINAGE. 



DuRiNO the last thirty years I have draineil many 

 thousand acres. The result in all cases was highly 

 satisfactory — the tenants being generally willing to 

 pay six and a half or seven per cent, on the expense, 

 and the advantage to them I am aware greatly ex- 

 ceeds that interest. The drainage I have adopted is 

 the parallel system. For some years I have allowed 

 no drainage under 3J feet deep in hard land, and in 

 moss or bog \\ or 5 feet. At one time (20 years 

 ago) our drains were only 27 and IW inches, but ex- 

 perience has shown us the great advantage of deeper 

 drains. Our present drains are 3J feet deep at 24 

 feet distance. We have no lowland for permanent 

 pasture, our drainage in moorlands for permanent 

 pasture being only a small open cut for surface water, 

 at an expense of about £3 per thousand rods, but of 

 incalculable advantage in sheep walks. The diree- 

 tiou of our minor drains is {(.'i'/fethe fall. We do not 

 regard the furrows — the land in this district being 

 sown out flat. I have used 2-inch and 2^-inch pipes 

 for minor drains, and 4-inch to 6-inch tiles with soles 

 for leaders. Collars or socket-pipes have not been 

 used in this district, although I believe they ought to 

 be. We have generally stones thrown out of drains, 

 with which we fix the joints of pipes very firmly. I 

 have not tried the practice of giving air at places to 

 drains, and do not consider it at all necessary. The 

 average number of acres to one outlet I cannot ac- 

 curately say: perhaps eight, ten, or twelve acr&s ac- 

 cording to circumstances. We have great variety ol 

 soil ; peaty soil upon clay or till, or a good red earthy 

 ?oil with more or less of clay upon rock, till, or clay. 

 We have a great variety of geological formation, but 

 chiefly a second class retentive soil upon the claj 

 slate formation. We are from 10 to 400 feet above 

 the level of the sea. The fall of rain here is, perhaps 

 as great as any part of Britain. In conclusion, I 

 believe there is no expenditure of capital more pro- 

 fitable than that of drainage, and few mea.sures have 

 done more good than the government grant for that 

 purpose. 1 believe if the money so absurdly expen- 

 ded in promoting emigration had been laid out in 

 drainage it would have been immensly more benefi- 

 cial, both in contributing to the comforts of the 

 poorer classes and in promoting the prosperity and 

 wealth of the community. In some cases a tract ol 

 land not worth 50s. has been, by drainage, made 

 worth £50 a year, and farms or estates have been 

 even tripled in value by drainage, followed by a good 

 .system of farming. G. Guthrie — Rephad, Stanraer. 



The greater part of Lord Yarborough's estate in 

 this county that required draining has been drained 

 by his tenants (his lordship providing the necessary 

 tiles) during the last twenty-five years. Up to about 

 four years ago the drains were put in from 16 to 24 

 inches from the surface, but during the last four 

 years a great part of these have been taken up and 

 put in not less than 3 feet. No difference is mad© 



