FODDER IN INDIA. 7 



and simple draining by digging and levelling up. Strictly 

 speaking of course any system of drainage not provided 

 solely by nature is artificial. 



It would be difficult to lay down any fixed rule for drain- 

 ing. Everything depends upon the general physical features 

 of the land to be drained and also upon the soil texture ; but 

 when you make a start "don't spoil the ship for a hap'orth 

 of tar " ; don't try to make water run up hill, it won't, although 

 the writer has seen such a phenomenon or what appeared 

 to be such in England ; always commence your drain at the 

 ' end ' (i.e., where the surplus water is to run off, or the mouth 

 of the drain) and work your way back to the first wet plot ; 

 don't join up your laterals square {i.e., at right angles). 

 Great depth is not always necessary. Commencing at 2j^' 

 increasing to 3' at the outlet will usually meet the case; but 

 all the same dig for a good " fall " and the fall in your main 

 must be as great and preferably rather greater than in your 

 laterals ; a " fall " of i — 50 will answer well as a rule but as 

 aforesaid it can be no hard and fast rule. 



It will be to advantage before starting to read through 

 some chapters on drainage in one of the agricultural works 

 which abound, if you don't care to buy (it will be money well 

 spent) there should be no difficulty in borrowing one of these 

 books, or try the local club library. 



Nothing perhaps is more universally neglected, or shall 

 we say overlooked, possibly in ignorance, 

 than ploughing and harrowing " grass- ™*f.ands°''"'^ 

 lands " : even a few turns with a home- 

 made brush harrow will often make a lot of difference to out- 

 turn and an "even" crop — experientia docet. On many grass 

 farms as soon as the harvest is over the lands are immediate- 

 ly let out under various arrangements (in my opinion all 

 bad and some worse than others) for grazing ? (what's in a 

 name), the argument being that it is 

 good for the land because it manures it **'"°'^'"floiai* ^^°^' 

 (as a rule even the manure is carried 

 away), and also that it means cash realizations. There is 



