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tent short of four feet in depth, unless there are physical objections 

 to this in the soil or fall. 



Many fail, in constructing their drains too far apart. Mr. 

 Parks already referred to did so. In very tenacious clay soils, 

 drains that are 4 feet deep, should be from 18 to 25 feet apart ; 

 if 3| feet deep, from 18 to 21 apart. On soils more porous, 25 to 

 30 feet will do ; if the depth be 4 feet, and on very porous soils, 

 from 40 to 50 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 Fi'ance. Of all the various forms 

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

 bling a pipe-stem, is considered the best by English drainers, be- 

 cause cheaper, less liable to get broken and less hkely to foul and 

 stop. 



The most serious objection made to this permanent improvement 

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

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

 ence 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 fall. 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 ar- 

 able 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 tJnited States. Observation 

 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 thor- 

 ough draining of arable land in this country, is that executed by 

 Mr. John Johnston, of Fayette, Seneca Co., W. N. Y. He has 

 nearly, or quite, completed the underdraining of his entire fiirm. 

 In doing this, he has constructed about fifty miles of drain, and 

 laid down more than 210,000 tiles. 



In draining, Mr. Johnston says, " The first important point is 

 to secure a sufficient outlet. To secure this, I dug almost a canal 



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