34 DRAINING OF GROUND 



nature of the soil, and the price of labour in the 

 neighbourhood where the work is to be done. In 

 Mid-Lotliian, I have got drains fourteen inches deep, 

 and requiring to be picked in the under-half, done 

 for one farthing per yard ; and drains twenty inches 

 deep, requiring extra picking, for two farthings 

 per yard. A particular point to attend to in the 

 draining of moor or waste land, for the planting 

 of young forest trees, is the manner of laying on 

 the drains upon the ground ; they must be laid on 

 in that position which is found to be the best adapted 

 for drawing off and intercepting the superfluous 

 water in its natural descent. I have seen several 

 plantations of late, and those of considerable extent, 

 drained in a very inefiicient manner, the drains not 

 having been properly laid down upon the ground. 

 To those who may be unacquainted Avith the art of 

 making open drains upon moor or waste land, the 

 following liints may be useful : — Upon level ground 

 — that is to say, upon ground not having any 

 perceptible fall for a considerable distance, great 

 caution must be used, in order to produce artificially 

 a fall or descent for the water that may collect in 

 drains made upon such a level. The manner of going 

 to "work in such a case is as follows : — look for the 

 lowest part of the ground, which, if it cannot be 

 detected by the eye, may be determined by the 

 spirit-level, which every drainer ought to possess ; 

 and having found the lowest part of the ground 



