[ 295 J 
XX VII. 
THE LINES OF FLOW OF WATER IN SATURATED SOILS: 
Expiaininc A SimpnE MetHod FOR DETERMINING THE RELATION 
BETWEEN THE DiIsTANCE APART OF DiTCHES AND THE HEIGHT TO 
WHICH THE SATURATING WATER wiLL Risk WITH A GIVEN Ratn- 
FALL, SPECIAL REFERENCE BEING MADE TO THE DRAINING OF 
Prat-Mosszs. 
By LEWIS F. RICHARDSON. 
[Read, January 21; Received for Publication, January 24 ; 
Published, May 8, 1908. ] 
CONTENTS. 
PAGE PAGE 
§ 1. The Problem to be discussed, . 295 | § 5. Discussion of Results, . . 809 
§ 2. The Law: Flow proportional § 6. Determination of the Porosity, 311 
to Force, . : : . 296 | § 7. Capillarity in Peat, : 314 
§ 3. Differential Equations, . 299 | § 8. Conclusion, . : : . 315 
$4. Solution of the Differential § 9. Bibliography, : : . 3815 
Equations, . : : . 302 
§ 1. Tue ProBLeM TO BE DISCUSSED. 
In working a peat-moss for litter, it is customary to remove 
the excess of water by longish parallel drains 15 yards or so 
apart, intersected by deeper cross-drains. 
The problem towards which this paper is devoted is as 
follows :— 
Given the annual rainfall, how must the drains be cut in order to 
remove just the right amount of water 2 Or conversely, What will 
be the effect of any given cutting ? 
For this purpose it is proposed to consider the drainage of peat- 
mosses only as far as the saturated substance is concerned ; that 
SCIENT. PROC. R.D.S,, VOL. XI., NO. XXVII. 2K 
