344 



THE AGRICULTURAL GAZETTE. 



■■P^^^H 



EXPERIENCES IN LAND DRAINAGE. 



No. VIII. — The result of my experience has been 

 generally satisfactory, except in some situations upon 

 strong clay lands, where the drains are 30 feet apart, 

 and which I think should not exceed 18 or 20 feet. — 

 The system adopted has been chiefly parallel, except 

 where the formation of the earth required them other- 

 wke. — The prevailing depth has been 4 feet in all situa- 

 tions where draught could be obtained from that depth. — 

 The only difference in our mode of draining between arable 

 and grass land is that the furrows have been followed 

 on the latter. — Where the ridges are high and of a great 

 width, we have drained with the fall ; and the furrows 

 have been followed where they came within the proper 

 distance for which the drains were set out. — Two-inch 

 pipes have been used for minor, and 3 and 4, 5 and 

 6-inch for main drains; no collar or socket pipes have 

 been used, as the drains are generally of a firm and 

 strong nature. — Cannot speak with any degree of accu- 

 racy on the benefit of giving air at places either to main 

 or minor drains. — The average number of acres dis- 

 charging at the several outlets varies materially as to 

 where outlets can be obtained, say from 2 to 10 acres, 

 the main pipes being proportionately large. — The soil 

 and subsoil is chiefly clay, with an admixture of stones 

 and marl. — Kyle, Moor House, Durham. 



No. IX. — The result of our draioage operations has 

 been perfectly satisfactory, and generally approved by m 



tenants who were much opposed to deep draining in the to no particular neighbourhood, as I have had to dram 



across the island. Hewitt Darks, 3, Frederick's Place, 



to either mam or minor drains.- 



of acres discharging at the several outlets has been 3 to 

 6 acres.— The soil and subsoil are loam on red and blue 

 clay.— The geological formation is red marl, or red sand- 

 stone.— The mean height of the land drained above the 

 sea level is 120 to 150 feet— The average depth of rain- 

 fall in our neighbourhood is 27 } 2 inches. Richard Mil- 

 ward, Thurgarton Priory, Southwell, Notts. 



No. XI.— The result of our drainage operations on 

 all descriptions of land as regards work done in the last 

 five years, and under my personal directions, has been 

 satisfactory.— The drainage I have adopted has been a 

 parallel system as a principle.— The prevailing depth of 

 the drains has been 4 feet.— I have made no difference 

 in the mode of draining between arable and Grass land, 

 although I have doubts as to the advisability of so deep 

 draining (4 feet) marsh land when the soil is lighr.— 

 The direction of the minor drains has been with the 



The average number is very porous as far as 45 lee: 



fall ; I think it an error to be governed by the furrows. 



The pipes have been 1 1 inch to 3 inches in minor 



drains, and 3 to 6 inches in mains ; I have double piped 

 through quicksands and bogs, but found little occasion 

 for collars elsewhere. — I have found no benefit by giving 

 air at places to either main or minor drains, and cannot 

 see the use, seeing the soil is made porous by draining. 

 — I would not willingly bring above 10 acres to one 

 outlet. — I believe my experience must include nearly 

 all the soils we have in England. — As to the mean 

 height of the land drained above the sea level, I refer 



I * * ■ 11 T 1 1- J A- J. _• 



first instance. — I have adopted what is commonly called 

 the parallel system. — The prevailing depth of the 

 drains has been 4 feet. — No difference in our mode of 

 draining between arable and grass land when under 

 similar circumstances. — Minor drains taken with the 

 fall in every instance. On strong land where ridges are 

 high I have been compelled to keep to the furrows, 

 urging tenants to level the ridges as soon afterwards j 

 as possible. — I have generally used 2-inch pipes for 

 minor drains ; and for mains, from 3 to 8 inches 

 capacity, according to circumstances. — I have not used 

 any socket pipes, and collars only where the land is 

 unsound. 1 dare not lay pipes of a less size than 



2 inches without collars. — I have seen instances where 

 air has been required for insuring a rapid and even 

 discharge of the water, but I have never found it neces- 

 sary in my own practice ; I have sometimes made a 

 "well" in a long or important main drain for the sake 

 of satisfaction more than from any existing necessity for 

 air. — What is the average number of acres discharging 

 at the several outlets ? This question I cannot answer ; 

 I may say from 40 acres to 4. As a general rule I 

 think the square root of the acres in a field will give the 

 size of the outfall pipe required ; thus for a 9 acre field 



3 inch outfall, 16* acres, 4 inch ; in practice I prefer, 

 however, to exceed rather than to be under this rule in 

 the size of an outfall pipe. — The soil and subsoil have 

 been various ; from clay of the strongest and most 

 " impervious" quality to gravel. — The geological forma- 

 tion is various. — The draining I have effected being in 

 various parts of the country and under different circum- 

 stances I cannot give a satisfactory answer to the 

 questions about height of situation or rain-fall. G. 

 Beaumont, Bridgeford Hill. 



No X. — The result of our drainage operations on all 

 descriptions of land has been satisfactory. — I have 

 found that all drainage for spring water must be done 

 according to the particular circumstances of the case, 

 and my replies only refer to drainage for surface water 

 on strong clay-land. The plan has been in some cases 

 (where the land was in ridges of 4 and 4| yards wide) 



to make a tile drain up every other furrow 2£ to 3 feet 



deep, taking care that none of the subsoil or clay should j unknown. /. Anderson^ Newcastle. 

 be put back into the drain, but spread over the land. 

 As soon as practicable after the draining, say in three 

 or four years, the lands or ridges are ploughed into 

 proper form, the old alternate furrow without a tile- 

 drain being now the ridge, not at all high, but with a 

 gradual fall each way to the furrow. I have land before 

 me which was treated in this manner in 1826, and in 

 nearly every subsequent year, and the result continues 



satisfactory— growing 30 tons of Swede 

 to 12 quarters Oats, 5 to 6 quarters 

 5 to 7 quarters of Barley per acre ; this 

 latter crop depending so much upon the state of the 

 land when the Turnips were carted off. In March 1850 

 I drained a field up every furrow at three different 

 depths— 2 feet, 2£ feet, and 4 feet It has grown Barley, 

 seeds pastured two years, and Oats ; now sown with 

 Wheat. No person has yet been able to say which was 

 drained 2 feet or 4 feet, and I am thoroughly convinced 

 that where there are no springs, the soil strong, and the 

 subsoil clay, 2\ to 3 feet is more beneficial than any 

 greater depth. Nearly all the land, which since drain- 

 ing grows large crops of roots and of Barley first-rate 

 malting quality, a few years ago grew miserable Turnips 

 and Barley only fit for grinding, besides which the 



harvest is now as forward as on the hottest part of 



fcnerwood Forest.--The prevailing depth of the drains 



, - Tne mode of draining on arable land is 



teener than on Grass.-The direction of the minor 



drams is with the fall. I have followed the furrows 



where the land is in ridges generally. In some cases 



L T Ti f T* ^* ard * *P«rt, without reference 



to the old furrows ; but m every case I keep the land 



in very slightly elevated ridges, the tile being always 

 under the furrow and this plan I find far preferable to 

 having the land flat.— I have used 2J inch pi Des and 

 hone shoe tiles H x 2{ inch for minor drains. ' The 

 outfall tiles vary.— I have not tried giving air at places 



to be quite 

 Turnips, 1 

 Wheat, and 



i» y^j F v/*^ uo «o *«». 3 to jeei apart au«i 5 fZITr- 



And in some pasture lands I have placed the d ; 



and 60 feet apart with the greatest success. 'YiT °«r 

 that some of our earlier performances at a d°*k 

 3 feet will require to be redrained at a great er£*w 

 It is painful to see the shallow drainage still ft «f^y * 



cotUi: 



! 



is 2 to 3 feet. 



Old Jewry, London. 



No. XII.— The drainage has been satisfactory except in 

 some cases of peat. I have found all drains in peat contain- 

 ing red water to be choked by a sort of ferruginous 

 deposit, in about four or five years. Chemists say lime 

 will counteract this. I have not found it so ; having 

 limed a great portion of a drained bog at the rate of 

 200 bushels of clod lime per acre. The drains were 

 choked exactly in the Bame manner as the unlimed 

 portion. I have redrained the bog, giving a little more 

 fall in the drains, with pipes 3 inches diameter, at 5^ feet 

 deep, 40 yards apart ; each drain being carried up 

 the adjoining hill to gain a supply of pure water in order 

 to dilute the deleterious water of the bog, and to flush 

 the drains. At present the result is deemed satisfactory. 

 Experience has taught me that drainage is effectually 

 done in Grass lands where the subsoil is porous, at 

 40 yards apart, and 5 to 5* feet deep ; in any subsoil at 

 20 yards apart and 44 feet deep, i.e., in the furrows. 

 Ridge and furrow should always be crossed in a slanting 

 direction if possible, i.e., consistent with true levels, in 

 Grass land, unless the ridges are very high old-fashioned 

 ridges. — Parallel drains have been used. — Four to 7 feet 

 deep, 10 yards apart in tillage land, 20 yards apart in 

 Grass land. — Half the number of drains is amply 

 sufficient for Grass land. — Minor drains are laid on 

 these levels (down the steepest part of the hill), so that 

 the bottom of every drain is in the same uniform level 

 as its neighbouring drains. — Pipes 2^ inches in diameter 

 for minor drains ; 3 to 9 inches in diameter for mains ; 

 collars used when really necessary. — If drainage is pro- 

 perly done there can be no need for giving air at 

 particular places ; water of drainage carries air with it. 

 — From 5 to 40 acres run out at one outfall according to 

 circumstances, it being deemed necessary to have as few 

 drain mouths to look after as possible ; also the greater 

 the discharge of water from tbe main the more likely 

 is the outlet to be kept clear. — Almost every description 

 of soil has been drained. — The geological formation is 

 blue mountain limestone, or lead measures. — The height 

 above sea is from 550 to 750 feet. — The rain- fall is 



known. J. 



No. XIII. — The result of my draining operations on 

 all kinds of soil has been satisfactory, excepting in some 

 of the earlier works where the drains were not of suf- 

 ficient depth. — I have invariably adopted a parallel 

 system. — The prevailing depth may be stated at 4 feet 

 6 inches. — I have generally placed the drains a greater 

 distance apart in Grass lands than in tillage lands. — The 

 minor drains are placed in the line of the greatest fall, 

 and in some instances where the ridges are much raised 

 (particularly in Grass lands), they have been placed in 

 the furrows. — I have used 2 £ -inch diameter cylindrical 

 pipes for minor drains, and 4-inch and 6-inch pipes for 

 mains. — I have never tried the effect of openings to 

 admit air, but it strikes me that soil perfectly freed from 

 water requires no such openings. — About 10 acres run 

 out at one outfall. — My experience embraces every 

 variety of soil and subsoil — clay, bog, loam, sand, &c.&c. 

 The same remarks will apply to the geological formation, 

 but the greatest proportion of the works has been 

 executed over tbe Northumberland coal formations. — The 

 altitude of the lands drained ranges from 200 feet to 

 1000 feet above the level of the sea. — There are not (I 

 am sorry to say) any rain-gauges kept in this district— I 

 may mention that I have directed and superintended an 

 outlay in drainage very little short of if not exceeding 

 15,0007. About 3000/. of that amount was expended in 

 3-feet drains laid down at distances from 18 to 21 feet 

 apart (which has not been quite satisfactory), and the 

 remaining 12,000/. of a depth not less than 4 feet. I 

 have had one or two failures in deep drainage, where 

 from a desire to economise I had placed the minor 

 drains at too great a distance apart, and where, from 

 the negligence and ignorance of the farmer, the land had 

 not been laid perfect'y level. In very strong clays I 

 place ;he ordinary drains about 24 feet apart and 44 

 feet deep with perfect success; in medium subsoils about 

 33 feet apart and the same depth; and where the subsoil 



ramage still 

 near Newcastle-on-Tyne and many parts of s 



Thomas Oow, Newcastle. 



Home 



The Nitrophosphate Manure. 



In reply to « $. R. g 



s 



as one of the trustees of the " Nitrophosphate orW 

 Mauure " Company, I beg to state that last year I 

 35 tons, and during the present season I am usin** 

 tons of that valuable manure. I used the lutrophosphi 

 alone for my white and green round Turnip m L 

 with great success, but with Swedes and Man»oW«k 

 admixture with farm-yard manure (in smail quantity 

 guano, and salt. From the favourable reports of sot 

 neighbours as to its use on corn crops, I am this vetr 

 using it. on from 60 to 100 acres of Oats and si 

 Wheat. My occupation is upwards of re ^ 



light chalk soil, and 380 heavy clay. The nitre. W 

 phate was equally successful on both soils. H. \\\ 

 shall be happy to give our correspondents aidresi 

 "S. R. E." wishes for further information.] 



Temperature of Dairy.— In reply to the inquiries 

 " An Original Correspondent," the water used for j 

 creasing the temperature of my dairy is quite he 

 when the tap is opened, the water travels through 

 cistern to the other extremity, where the outflow j 

 is placed, throwing off a considerable quantity of iter 

 The supply of hot water is exhausted in six to eig 

 minutes, and in about half an hour the water u coolt 

 and then wholly drawn off. By this application, ti* 

 temperature of the dairy is increased to 60°. Ti 

 bowls are of thick glazed earthenware of a dark W 

 colour. As earthenware is a slow conductor of heal, I 

 think it improbable that the milk, of which there art 4 

 to 5 quarts in each bowl, attains a temperature equal I 

 that in the dairy, as this begins to lower when the i. 

 water has ceased to flow. The bowls stand on a bate ••» 

 6 to 8 inches, and expand at the top to double ti 

 breadth. I have on no occasion found any unpleaar 

 flavour from this process. When the dairy dur 

 summer weather reaches continuously a tempt 

 up to but not exceeding 60°, I find my milk on standing 

 36 hours affected with a sour taste. If I cannot redo 

 the temperature by the cold water, I cream after I 

 hours, to keep the old milk sweet, in which state &1«* 

 it is saleable. For my purpose, I am disposed tojtauik 

 a temperature of 52° to 56" the most desirable. )'. 



Guano Buying. —The following paper by Mr. Pridear 

 in the " Journal of the Bath and West of Englaiwi 

 Agricultural Society," appears to me so important at u> 

 present season that, believing your readers will agrt 

 with me in this opiniou, I would advise its being ex- 

 tracted and published in your columns. M. & " Guano. 

 now become so important to the farmer, is so writ* 

 different in quality, that something like a standarc 

 its real and comparative value is very desirable for tl*t 

 buyer, to show him what is best worth bis moot. 

 Besides the shameful adulterations it has undergo** 

 at home, and may do equally abroad, it is hw> * & 

 unintentional casualty in collecting, by stones, e&rtM* 

 sand coming up with it. And even when quite ! geau" 

 its value is very different, according to the d ^f* 

 moisture and stage of decay. An average analjsw 

 Peruvian guano by Professor Way gave per cent.:- 



Moisture 13 



Organic matter ... 53 containing ammonia 



Phosphates 24 11 



... 9 containing potash. - •■ 



...IT 



Alkaline salts 

 Sand. &c. 



• * 



• « • 



• • • 



1 



100 



The moisture and sand are, of course, worth nflth* 



the less of them the better. The organic 



matt 



hich is wortli** 



he values only for its ammonia, which 1* ^ 



6d. per lb., so that a sample yielding 17 lbs. w^ 

 will be worth Is. per 100 lbs., or 22s. pe£ wn. 



than one containing only 15 lbs, (unless the 1 

 richer in phosphate or potasb). P hos P lial V; t tf* 

 worth about double the price of bone-o tur , ^ 



deducting the other valuable materials which ^ 

 contains. On this principle Professor way ^^ 



d. per lb. ; and the potash, from tue 



source* (the sulphate or muriate), 

 average sample of genuine Peruvian 



reckoned as follows 



at 2\d. 

 guano 



Hen<**» 



*Ammonia 

 Phosphate 

 Potass 



• • • 



• *« 



• • • 



• •• 



• •• 



• • • 



lbs. 

 17 

 24 

 SJ 



at 

 at 

 at 



d. *- 

 6 =S 

 0}=- 1 

 2i= 



d. 

 6 

 6 

 8 



10 6 pern- 

 or U iop* r fv: 



rising or falling 11*. per ton for every poun ^ 

 more or less To which I *ould add (tj^ 



Professor Way's sanction) full 1^-P^^ 12/. *■ ; 

 organic matters and alkaline salts mak h w & 





per 



ton. But how to render 



"* 3fr* 



thod 



farmer, who cannot assay his gu«M" >> *f "j^" to ^ r 

 of any simple tests would immediately ^ {n * 



evasion? The most feasible me 

 always to buy guano under guarantee o. ^ ^ ^ 

 analysis given with the ii.vo.ee : /roffl * st$B <^ 



!T_ l.-i. h _ :. w h„ comparison wllu ... nis y » 







• Professor Voelcker value* 



n ejwj^^ 



