UNDERDRAINING. 161 



thirty feet will do ; if the depth be four feet, and on very 

 porous soils, from forty to fifty feet will answer. This whole 

 matter, however, must be determined on by careful inspection. 

 Elkington's rules are said to be the best on this subject. 



The use of tiles in thorough draining is becoming common 

 in this country, as in England and France. Of all the various 

 forms of tile for this use, the pipe-tile, so called, because in 

 form resembling a pipe-stem, is considered the best by English 

 drainers, because cheaper, less liable to get broken, and less 

 likely to foul and stop. 



The most serious objection made to this permanent improve- 

 ment in farming, is its cost. To quote a vulgar, but significant 

 phrase, " It ivill not pay, ^^ say the farmers. If this be true, — 

 if experience and observation, after having given thorough 

 draining a fair trial, shall confirm this prediction, then none 

 but fancy farmers will adopt it ; for all matters in farming that 

 fail to stand this test must ultimately fail. All improvements 

 which are in advance of old customs and traditions are assailed 

 in this way by prejudice ; consequently improvements of every 

 kind make slow progress. And it would be strange, indeed, 

 if the theory that nearly all arable lands in Massachusetts need 

 underdraining, did not meet sturdy objectors, clad in economy, 

 as with a coat of mail, earnestly and in good faith, contending 

 that such a radical improvement will never pay. With such, 

 the advocates of thorough draining should not spend much 

 time in arguing the question, but rather in collecting facts, 

 such as experience has evolved and observation confirmed. 



Such are in the possession of every practical drainer, whether 

 in England, Scotland, France, or the United States. Observa- 

 tion and experience have taught the writer that the whole cost 

 of draining swamp land has been more than paid by the first 

 crop of potatoes taken off after draining. 



One of the best and most successful experiments made 

 in thorough draining of arable land in this country, is that 

 executed by Mr. John Johnston, of Fayette, Seneca county. 

 Western New York. He has nearly or quite completed the 

 underdraining of his entire farm. In doing this, he has 

 constructed about fifty miles of drain, and laid down more 

 than 210,000 tiles. 



21 



