PBEPAEING THE PLANTING AEEA 87 



the nature of the soil and the quantity of water to be 

 coped with. On heavy and wet soils they may be needed 

 as close as 12 feet, while in lighter soils they may be 80 feet 

 or more apart. They must be made to enter the side- 

 drains at a sharp angle, so that there is no check to the 

 water, otherwise damage may be done to the larger drains 

 at the points of entry. 



The principal point is to cut the feeders in the direction 

 in which they will intercept most water running through 

 the soil. 



Draining deep peat is a rather more difficult job, as peat 

 shrinks very considerably when the water is drained off. 



The work should be spread over two or three years 

 instead of making the drains as deep as will be finally 

 necessary in one year. For instance, the ditches may be 

 made 18 inches deep in the first year. After the water 

 has drained out of this layer they may be only about 

 15 inches or even 12 inches deep. Another 18 inches is 

 taken out in the second year, which, allowing for shrinkage, 

 should leave the drain 30 inches or 24 inches deep. If 

 needed still deeper, they may be finished off in the third 

 year. This method saves having to deal with such a 

 large quantity of water, and allows the peat to settle 

 gradually. 



When the peat is shallow the whole operation may be 

 done in one year. If the underlying soil is not naturally 

 wet, the drains need not be more than from 3 inches to 

 6 inches below the bottom of the peat. 



The mineral soil taken from the drains should be spread 

 evenly over the spaces between them, or it can be left in 



