No. 129.] 175 



grasses or grains, will grow healthily upon such a surface in sum 

 mer, and much of the farming lands of Great Britain, are or 

 would be in this state the year through. The general remedy to 

 meet this difficulty there, is draining either on the surface, 

 underneath, or both. Now the general pactice is underdraining. 

 This with those Avho are able to meet the expense, as it is pretty 

 heavy if perfectly done ; it is found to be the cheapest, first, it 

 lasts the longest without requiring repair, the land can be rode 

 and travelled over with teams and cattle, it is made more smooth 

 and level, looks better, and what is most essential it is a saving 

 of land, as the drains from this depth can be ploughed over and 

 tilled. This is important in Great Britain where land is scarce, 

 and very dear. The drains are made from two and a half, to 

 eight feet deep, according to the soil, the shape of the surface, 

 the falls and variations of these, all to be calculated and allow- 

 ed for in making the main drain, the fittest place in the ground 

 for this, and also the lateral drains, how many of these last the 

 ground requires and their points of intersection with the main 

 drain. It requires some knowledge of enginery, so far at 

 least as relates to the taking- of levels, attended with nice 

 mathematical and arithmetical calculations, and all to 

 make the draining lasting and useful, accompanied with great 

 experience in the art, and the soundest judgment. It is admit- 

 ted by all who have both practiced and written most scientifi- 

 cally on the subject, that draining when it is done, should be 

 done well, or it had better not be done at all. A little additional 

 expense must not be regarded, or the whole instead of being 

 beneficial may be a total loss, or may possibly be injurious to 

 land, or at any rate, to restore this to its former tolerable condi- 

 tion, might cost more than good draining would in the first 

 place. We are speaking of draining as required and done in 

 Great Britain, where from the great moisture of the Soil and 

 climate, and the low temperature of this last compared with 

 ours, artificial means must be resorted to_, to lead ofi" or get rid 

 of its surplus water or moisture. This too is necessary with by 

 far the greater portion of its land to get abundant crops of any 

 kind. There are several tables given of the expense of drain- 

 ing in Great Britain by able authors, and well acquainted practi- 



