188 On Draining. 



purpose, the head-lands should be cut through, where ne- 

 cessary, that water arising from any sudden flood, may have 

 a free passage ; the spit of earth dug out of the water-fur- 

 rows, should be laid on one side, opposite to the rise of the 

 land, to prevent overflowing, and all the loose mould care- 

 fully shovelled out( is3 ). This simple operation of water- 

 furrowing^ is attended with such beneficial consequences, that 

 wetness may often be removed by such means alone, with- 

 out the aid of additional drains ; while the omission of it, 

 may not only lessen the crop, but injure the soil for some 

 time afterwards. 



Water-furrowing is likewise of great advantage, in pas- 

 ture fields; and the cuts, or furrows, ought to be carefully 

 scoured out before winter. The water is thus prevented 

 from lodging and soaking into the soil ; which is then less 

 likely to suffer from poaching ; and the roots of the grass, 

 not being chilled by superfluous moisture, will necessarily 

 come forward earlier in spring ( IZ *). 



In some districts, open drains are made ot the subjoined 

 shape, and turfed to the bottom, so that there 

 is no loss of herbage. No water ever stands A f 



in these drains, and a part of a county, (the \ / 



Coventry estate in Worcestershire), which, ^^ , */ 

 half a century ago, was a mere morass, has now become, by 

 means of these drains, perfectly dry, healthy for sheep, and 

 fit for cattle ( iz5 ). Mr Johnstone recommends, that these 

 drains should not be ploughed with the rest of the field, but 

 should always remain in grass ; for if loosened by the 

 plough, the sides might be washed down, and the shape 

 destroyed ( ia5 ). 



It is a general rule regarding open drains, with a view of 

 giving sufficient slope and stability to their sides, that the 

 width at top, should be three, times as much as that which 

 is necessary at the bottom ; and in the case of peat-mosses, 

 or soft soils, it should be still more. In regard to the fall 

 or declivity, it should be such, as to allow the water to run 

 off without stagnation, but not with so rapid a motion as to 

 injure the bottom. 



In all drains, it is a rule to begin at the lowest place, and 

 to work upwards, by which the water will always pass from 

 the workmen, and point out the level. This enables the 

 labourers also, to work in coarse weather, and prevents their 

 being interrupted by wet, so early in the season, as other- 

 wise might happen. But when drains are to be filled with 

 stones or other materials, it is proper to begin at the highest 



