AGRICULTURAL DRAINING. 43 



the surface. The effect was surprising. The land about 

 the drains was found to be easier to work, it became 

 warmer in winter, and cooler in summer, and gave much 

 better returns. 1836 saw the first tile drains laid. Pipe 

 drains followed soon after. Now it is known that not 

 only does draining carry off stagnating and undesirable 

 water, but important chemical changes follow, the soil is 

 deepened, and the drained land withstands drought, while 

 und rained land becomes parched and bakes hard as bricks. 



Cost of Drains. In places where considerable quanti- 

 ties of this work are done, drains three feet deep and 

 formed of a single slab covering the lowest six inches 

 (made narrower 011 purpose) have been put down at a total 

 cost of 5s. per chain ; that is 66 feet of drain. The price, 

 then, varies according to the material used and the nature 

 of the land, from 5s. to 12s. per chain. In a big job of 

 2-inch pipe draining, the cost (men working at 5s. per day 

 and rations) proved to be 9s. 8d per chain. One and 2- 

 inch pipe drains, laid 3ft. deep in stiff, shaley soil at 

 Rook wood, cost 10s. per chain. 



Distances and Depth. As it is in other countries, so it 

 is here, various distances and depths are in favor. Perhaps 

 the most general depth for field crops is three feet. Drains 

 at this depth, and 20 feet apart, make an improvement upon 

 land that becomes more and more marked year after year. 

 Hut distance and deptli in this matter must be regulated by 

 the nature of the soil. Fifteen feet apart is found quite 

 far enough in draining stiff clay soil, while 40 feet apart is 

 found effective in sandy loams. To facilitate the getting 

 together of material for draining, the following calcula- 

 tions may be useful. The pipes referred to are each 

 one foot* in length. In slab draining the slal)s are com- 

 ni'Milv four feet long, so that one slab would represent four 

 pipes. 



t O" I) lUT-Htl'El HKQUIRK!) 1> !lt ACHF. 



10 ft 12 t'-et ! I o feet 17 f " 18 (- ( M -eel 

 ap-iT. ' Mp.irr. apart. npirt. Hp;irt. :ipMt. 



