280 ENGINEERING ON THE FARM 



distance from the main channel. Many of these laterals 

 may in turn be only outlets for collecting systems, and 

 consequently the needs of each inlet must be carefully con- 

 sidered at the time of determining the depth of the main 

 outlet channel. 



Shallow open ditches. The cheapest and simplest collect- 

 ing system is the shallow surface drain, which follows the 

 low depressions or the shortest line between sloughs. This 

 system of drainage can usually be worked out by the farmer. 

 After a heavy rain, or in the spring, when the water is stand- 

 ing on the surface, the location of surface drains can be easily 

 determined, and, by the use of a few stakes, can be per- 

 manently marked so that they may be retraced at any 

 time. The surface water will give a fair idea of the depth 

 of cuts needed through low ridges. These ditches can be 

 made with a plow and slip-scraper, or push-grader, at any 

 time during the working season when teams are not other- 

 wise busy. They should be made wide enough to be readily 

 crossed with farm machinery, so that they will not inter- 

 fere with cultivation. If their beds are too wet for farm 

 crops, they can be sown in grass and mown each year, which 

 will keep them clear and often give some return on the land 

 occupied. In the construction of surface drains care should 

 be taken not to excavate deeper in the low places than 

 through the ridges, as the object is to prevent standing 

 water. By careful plowing, dead furrows can be made to 

 act as laterals. Each rain will show up the points that are 

 too high and give an idea in regard to the efficiency of the 

 entire system, and the faulty places can be improved at 

 the next working period. By intelligent and careful study 

 and work on the part of the farmer, he can in the course of 

 a few years, at a very small expense, place his land in such 

 condition that the surface water will soon disappear except 

 in some of the deeper and larger sloughs, where it can do 

 no additional harm, and when these sloughs are drained 

 his land will be practically free from surface water. 



