DRAINING. 



193 



A good drainage-level is necessary on an estate. Where a theodolite 

 is kept for surveying purposes, it also does for levelling ; but as it is 

 an expensive and complicated instru- FIG 



ment, a more simple drainage-level 

 should be kept. I have had one in 

 use for some years which answers 

 the purpose admirably. Fig. 71 is 

 a sketch of it. It consists of an 

 achromatic telescope with cross lines. 

 The spirit-tube lies at the top of the 

 telescope. By turning the screw a, 

 the tube can be raised or lowered as 

 required. In the centre, and at the 

 top of the legs, there is a universal 

 joint that will admit of the telescope 

 being turned in any direction. This 

 instrument is manufactured by Mr Cooke of York, who sends instructions 

 along with it. Its price is 3, 10s. 



SECTION 7. Other Improvements which must follow Drainage to 

 make it effectual, 



In order to make drainage of the utmost value to the soil, it must be 

 succeeded by other important improvements ; and the chief of these are, 

 deep stirring of the soil, and the abundant application of manures. It 

 will always be found that unless this is done, drainage for a time does 

 more harm than good. I have known, fields which were thoroughly 

 drained, but being left in the hands and management of a tenant who 

 was in no way a first-class farmer, they actually became much poorer, 

 and deteriorated in value, under the old system of management. 



Both the soil and subsoil should be thoroughly stirred up and opened 

 out after drainage. If it is thought too expensive to trench the land as 

 recommended in a former chapter, the steam-cultivator will be found a 

 most beneficial implement for this purpose. I have had fields stirred 

 to a depth of fourteen inches with this implement. Where a steam- 

 cultivator is not to be got for this purpose, there are several trench 

 and subsoil ploughs which will be found useful for such operations. 

 Amongst the best of these with which I have personal experience are 

 "the Tweeddale" plough and " Howard's subsoil" plough. 



Manures always act more beneficially on 'drained land than on wet 



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