42 



part of the field, so as to convey away the water brought by the 

 cross drains that it was necessary to construct from the most dis- 

 tant part of the fields. Owing to having but Uttle fall this drain 

 was made six inches deeper than the depth fixed upon for the small 

 drains. This keeps the outfalls of the small drains clear, and 

 accelerates the speed of the water. The main drain conveyed 

 so much more water than the small drains, I found the small 

 amount of fall was no serious objection except where the fall 

 varied ; where this occurred the main drain was cut the narrowest 

 where the least rapid part of the water was, for the purpose of 

 increasing the current. 



The main drain being cut, on the same level, the lower end was 

 made larger than the upper, it having more water to convey, and 

 for the purpose of expediting the egress of the water and pro- 

 mote accelerated speed along the whole length of the drain. But 

 the difficulty was not yet entirely overcome. The Boston and 

 Worcester railroad crosses a part of this meadow, and their cul- 

 vert was constructed at a height that interfered with draining the 

 field above the railroad. To cause a greater fall than there was 

 upon the surface, I cut the cross drains deeper at the lower end 

 than I had determined the average depth, and shallower at the 

 upper. The force of the water was also increased by confining it 

 to narrow channels, thereby increasing the depth as it flows nearer 

 to the outlet into the main drain. The ground being mostly low 

 and flat, and the fall not allowing more, I decided on making the 

 drains average about four feet deep. Where small undulations 

 existed the drains were passed right through both the flat and rising 

 ground. The depth was varied only when we struck muck or 

 peat ; this we took out to the bottom, if it went several feet below 

 the fixed depth. The subsoil being of various qualities, drains 

 at various distances were required, and it was impossible to fix 

 the distance and depth that would be certain to sufficiently drain 

 it before the ditches were dug, or the nature of the subsoil ascer- 

 tained. 



After the small drains were made a hollow occurred, requiring an 

 additional sub-main drain to be made along the lowest part to re- 

 ceive the drainage and transmit it to the main drain. There were 

 large springs and collections of water upon this land, which had to 

 be conveyed away under ground. Stones were abundant on the 

 premises ; I have therefore confined my operations to stone drains. 

 The small drains that were to be filled with stones varied from 

 eiditeen inches to two feet wide. Stones of the size of a man's 

 head were selected and laid on the bottom of each side of the 

 ditch, leaving an open space between them, then they were 

 bridged over with other suitable stones. Small stones were then 

 used to fill within eighteen inches of the surface ; sods, with the 



