DRA 



and wettest land may in time become 

 the most rertile. 



"The tools used in draining aio 

 few and simple. Spades, with taper- 

 ing blades of different sizes, are re- 

 quired to dig the drains of the proper 

 width and the sides at a proper an- 

 gle. When the drain begins to be 

 very narrow near the bottom, scoops 

 are used of different sizes, which are 

 fixed to handles at various angles, 

 more conveniently to clear the bot- 

 tom and lay it smooth to the exact 

 width of the tiles, if these are used ; 

 for the more firmly the tiles are kept 

 in their places by the solid sides of 

 the drain, tlie less likely they are to 

 be moved. 



Figs. 6, 7, 8, represent three of the 

 most common tools. A heavy plough 

 is first run in the line of the drain and 

 back, unless it be desirable to retain 

 the sod, which must be cut off with 

 a spade. In the furrow so made a 

 hand enters with the spade a, which 

 is six inches wide at the top, four be- 

 low, and fourteen inches deep ; the 

 spits of earth are thrown to the right, 

 the turf being on the left side. An- 

 other workman follows with b, which 

 is four inches above and two or three 

 below, according to the intended size 

 of the channel of the drain. Lastly, 

 the scoop, c, is used to take out the 

 last portions of earth, and clear away 

 anv rubbish. 



Fis. 6. 



DRA 



Fig.y. 



Fif-. fi. 



T 



DRAINING PLOUGH. Several 



massive ploughs have been construct- 

 ed for the purpose of opening the 

 greater part of the ditch at one stroke : 

 they are double mould-board plouglis. 

 Figs. 1 and 2 represent two views 

 of Gray's draining plough. In 1 the 



side is figured, and 2 is taken from 

 above, aa are wheels which, with the 



front wheel, regulate the depth of tlie 

 furrow. A stout coulter, b, is tixed 



S39 



