160 SOILS 



open ditch is cut. This furnishes a receptacle for surface 

 and seepage waters, thereby relieving the land joining it 

 of its surplus water. 



The covered drain is made of tile, stone, wood, brush, 

 and boards, and furnishes a satisfactory exit for soakage 

 and seepage water. It is, by far, the most satisfactory 

 kind of drain, although there are instances when an open 

 drain is required. The objections to the open drain are : 

 The constant attention that is required to keep it in order, 

 to keep its banks from caving in, to keep out weeds that 

 grow there abundantly, and to overcome the loss of so 

 much land, which brings but small returns. 



Open drains are often made with banks sloping 

 outward. This admits less loss in waste, since 

 grass affords pasture and protects the sides at the 

 same time. 



Under-drains : many kinds of material. You may use 

 quite a number of materials for constructing under-drains. 

 The following kinds of materials frequently have been 

 used: stone, brush-, poles, boards, and tile. With one ex- 

 ception (tiles), these materials are out of date and now 

 but seldom, if ever, used. They have served their pur- 

 pose in their day but that was before the tile drain came. 

 Now, compared with tiles, all other forms are inefficient 

 and of little worth. 



The stone drain has been used a great deal, even to- 

 day it occasionally is in favor. When well constructed, it 

 is lasting and efficient. But it costs too much. To make 

 the stone drain properly, a wide trench is necessary, thus 

 necessitating the moving of an immense amount of dirt. 

 Besides, a tremendous quantity of stone is required, and 

 the labor, for the entire work, makes the stone drain many 

 times more costly than the tile drain. It seems to me it 

 is a good deal better to use all stone accumulations for 



