224 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



July 



AN UinJERDRAIN OUTLET AND TRAP. 

 In the progress of farming, few things have had 

 more happy results than the drainage of wet lands. 

 The operation has been found jjrofitahle in several 

 ways : one of which is to make the land greatly 

 more productive with a given amount of labor ; 

 and another, to enable the farmer to cultivate five 

 or six acres with as much ease — and vastly more 

 comfort — as he did three or four acres before it 

 was drained. 



Something remains yet to be learned, however, 

 in regard to the most economical depth and dis- 

 tances of drains, and as to the best manner of 

 constructing them. By longer experience in their 

 use, and by more careful observation of their ef- 

 fects upon the soil, and the action of running wa- 

 ter in disturbing them, we are gradually learning 

 lessons that enable us to make them more effec- 

 tive and at the same time, less costly. 



One of the difficulties with which we have had 

 to contend, is the obstruction of the outlet. This 

 is sometimes done by the water flowing back dur- 

 ing high stages of water when the drain empties 

 into low grounds, by a collection of slimy matter, 

 or by the entrance of frogs or mice, if the drain 

 is dry a portion of the time. 



To obviate 

 these difficulties 

 one of our cor- 

 respondents, E. 



J. CONNABLE, 



Esq., of Jack- 

 son, Mich., has 

 devised an Out- 

 let and Trap, 

 ■which, it seems 

 to us, is an admirable contrivance, and one which 

 will effectually prevent all obstructions. We are 

 happy to present the above illustration of his de- 

 sign, as we believe our friends who are interested 

 in draining will be glad to find so cheap and easy 

 a remedy for the obstruction at the outlet of their 

 drains. Mr. Connable evidently means to have 

 the work done in the most thorough manner, 

 judging from the description which he gives be- 

 low. Where stones are plenty, there can be no 

 objection to using them of the size which he de- 

 scribes, but one of much less weight and size 

 must be sufficient, we think, to answer all the de- 

 sired purposes. We mention this merely to do 

 away the impression that the use of this new de- 

 vice may be too expensive for common use. Mr. 

 C. says : 



Mr. Editor : — According to promise, I here- 

 with send you a Cast Iron tjnderdrain Outlet lolth 

 Trap. With this outlet, no animal as large as a 

 lizzard can enter the drain, and the trap, or grat- 

 ing, is so constructed and hung that it cannot be- 

 come choked by slime or other obstructions. It 

 allows the passage of a small quantity of water 



without opening the trap at all, while a larger 

 quantity opens it gradually, allowing the unob- 

 structed passage of a stream the full size of the 

 outlet, when necessary. It can never be left open 

 by accident, as it always closes by its own weight, 

 except when forced open by the water. 



Several years' use of it has shown that it never 

 gets out of order, and no action of flood or frost 

 prevents its successful operation. Its entire cost, 

 after the pattern is made, is only about one dol- 

 lar. My mode of securing the outlet is this : 

 Take a solid stone, say 4 feet long, 2i feet wide 

 and 15 or 18 inches thick ; place it on the edge 

 at the lower end, and across the line of the di'ain, 

 leaning it somewhat against the bank, "up stream ;" 

 first making a hole through it near the bottom, 

 large enough to receive a tile in the back side, 

 and then secure this outlet in the front side by 

 pouring melted roll brimstone around it. The 

 small projections on the outside of the tube are 

 to hold it securely in the stone, and the brimstone 

 is as hard and durable as the stone and iron. By 

 having one solid stone, there is no mason work 

 to become displaced, and no action of the frost 

 can disarrange it. AVhen a stone cannot be con- 

 veniently obtained, a block of wood of similar 

 dimensions will answer about as well, so long as 

 it remains sound. 



I have had a number of these outlets in opera- 

 tion for several years, secured in blocks of both 

 wood and stone, and they have thus far proved 

 entirely satisfactory. In a future communication 

 I may give some of the results of my efforts at 

 draining. E. J. Connable. 



Jackson, Mich., 1863. 



SALT FOR PLUM TREES. 

 Cultivators of the plum recommend the use of 

 salt as one of the most efficient articles that can 

 be applied to the trees. In its natural state, they 

 say, the plum is found to be much more vigorous 

 and flourishing when in the vicinity of salt watex*, 

 than when occupying an inland position. The 

 heacli plum, so called, from wliich some of our 

 most excellent varieties are derived, is a native of 

 the sea-shore, Avhere its roots are periodically sub- 

 merged in sea-water, and where it manifests a de- 

 gree of vigor and productiveness which it rarely 

 exhibits when transplanted, though favored with 

 the best culture it is possible to give it. But 

 where salt is included among the ingredients of 

 the compost, it soon reassumes its normal health 

 and vigor, and is rarely injured to any extent by 

 disease. A few quarts sprinkled in the spring 

 over the roots of bearing trees, is usually found to 

 be of decided service. Perhaps a better way would 

 be, always to make salt one of the ingredients of 

 the compost with which the trees are to be dressed. 



In England, some seven degrees further north 

 than we are, reckoning at Greenwich, they are 

 having their society exhibitions of flowers grown 

 in the open air. Temperature does not accord 

 with latitude — but the men of science do not yet 

 explain why, save so far as the influence of the 

 ocean goes. 



