434 TRANSACTIONS OF THE 



tlie shortest way to percolate to enter the drain, and when once in, 

 its delivery is of course very rapid. Formerly this plan was 

 objected to, and oblique drains always used. The direction of 

 t\\e main drains and sub drains depends on the nature of the 

 ground. When the surface undulates, lay the main drain along 

 the hollow and open into it at right angles. 



The distance at which small drains are placed apart depends 

 upon the nature of the soil, the depth of the drains, and whether 

 it is sub or surface water they have to deliver. 



In stilf clays you may dig your drains two or three feet deep, 

 and twenty feet apart, in porous soils from three to three and a 

 half feet deep, and thirty feet apart. If the outfall will permit, 

 I would never drain less than four feet deep on any ordinary soil, 

 and from twenty to thirty feet apart, though they are some- 

 times efficient forty-five feet apart, in soils of varied texture. 

 When lands are to be drained, much judgment must be exer- 

 cised by the overseer, as some soils would give inferior crops 

 during a dry summer if drained deeper than two feet. I have 

 always employed stones in the construction of my drains, in pre- 

 ference to all other materials, and have made in fifteen years very 

 many miles; next to stones, I would prefer tubes over soles and 

 tiles, they are much cheaper, occupy little space, are easily trans- 

 ported, and not so liable to break. They are easily laid, effect a 

 more perfect drainage, and are less liable to sediment. 



When we drain land thoroughly, w^e anticipate that every drop 

 of rain will sink precisely on th6 spot where it falls, and pass 

 down to the drain. Thus all the water is so filtered as to leave 

 its valuable substances held in solution in the soil. If your 

 drains are successful, excess of water will immediately sink to them. 



I have found some of my lands that have been drained for ten 

 years, have changed their sub-soil, into the nature of the surface 

 soil to the water in the drains; this is produced by the ameliorat- 

 ing effect of water and air, decomposing the inorganic and organic 

 constituents, and thus eliminating matters which constitute the 

 pabulum .of plants, also by eradicating deleterious substances, 

 rendering the texture loose for the penetration of roots, and thus 

 increasing the fertility of the land to a great degree, often doub- 

 ling the crops. 



I have discovered that my thoroughly drained fields, stand 

 drought and wet far better than undrained fields containing the 

 same quality of soil. It is not surprising that they should stand 

 wet better, but it is that they bear drought so well, and show 

 superior verdure throughout the summer, and that they should 



