248 ■ Utility of Draining, 



The soil, the subsoil, and the base impervious. This is of 

 rare occurrence, and rather difficult to remedy ; as in this case, 

 rain-water being unable, after the soil is saturated, to penetrate 

 the surface, thus precludes, in a great measure, the art of 

 draining. As our operations in this case will be confined to 

 the surface, where the base is of great depth, the effects of this 

 on vegetation are soon apparent; the soil having been saturated 

 by the rains of winter, and expanded by frost, and its fresh 

 pores probably filled with dissolving snow, and having no other 

 means of discharging its superfluous moisture but the process 

 of evaporation, its efforts are checked, and its power of vege- 

 tation retarded. 



In the cultivation it is difficult to work, and cropped with 

 uncertainty, from its liability to close upon the roots of the 

 plants, depriving them of the necessary supply of air, and thus 

 materially injuring their growth. This description of soil may 

 be remedied considerably by rounding it in ridges, with open 

 interfurrows, cross drains, and ditches ; thus taking off the super- 

 fluous rain or surface water, and conveying it to some desirable 

 place. 



First, I shall commence with covered drains. Their dimen- 

 sions will depend upon their depth, the quantity of water they 

 have, or may be wanted, to carry, and the materials they are filled 

 with. When the depth does not exceed 3 ft., 1 ft. 3 in. wide at 

 the top will be sufficient ; but, when deeper, the width may be 

 increased to about 3 in. for every foot in depth : the width at 

 the bottom to be also attended to ; it should not be much nar- 

 rower than the top, to allow of building a substantial drain ; 

 if this is not attended to, unpleasant results may follow. When 

 the bottom is made (as it frequently is) much narrower than the 

 top, the stones are obliged to be set on their edges, and the 

 covers laid on them in an insecure state; and in many instances 

 they fall down before the drain is finished, to the mortification of 

 the operator, by which springs would be formed in the driest 

 part of the ground. 



In making drains, several things might be done as a means 

 of facilitating the operation: — the stones to be laid in readiness 

 for commencing ; the excavating and the making to go hand in 

 hand, for fear of accidents, such as the soil falling in ; great care 

 taken that the bottom of the drains may fall with a regular 

 descent, in order that the water may run from one end to the 

 other without stagnation. 



When the bottom is soft, it should be laid with flag-stones, 

 to prevent the materials from sinking ; the side walls should 

 also be made secure, and the covers strong, packed at their ends 

 with broken stones ; the space above, in strong adhesive soils, 

 should be filled with stone rubble, within 1 ft. at least of the 



