18 PLANTING. 



Another good test is that of turning up a spadeful 

 of earth in ordinary dry weather. If it is found 

 pasty and close, it is too wet for the proper growth of 

 trees, and must therefore be drained. 



One very decided advantage of draining is pro- 

 duced by spreading the excavations on the surface of 

 the ground ; and it is often commendable to put the 

 drains sufficiently close to cover the entire surface 

 with the excavations. The effect of thus spreading 

 the excavations is to encourage in a remarkable de- 

 gree the roots to run upon the surface. The earth 

 thus spread also induces the natural herbage to decay ; 

 and the plants never at any subsequent stage of 

 growth lose the benefits thus conferred on them. 



Draining is a work that can well be done by con- 

 tract, and should always be so done when it can. 

 For ordinary purposes drains answer well put in at 

 20 feet apart, 30 inches wide at top, 10 inches wide 

 at bottom, and 20 inches deep. 



In contracting for a large extent of drains where a 

 diversity of soil exists, and soft mossy parts have to be 

 drained as well, it is most convenient to specify the 

 drains in the mossy ground to be 36 inches wide at 

 top and 2 feet deep. By thus specifying the moss 

 drains to be larger every way two advantages are 

 gained, — one being that the moss ground, which 

 always greatly subsides when the water is extracted 

 from it, receives the benefit of the extra size of 

 drains ; and the other, that on measuring the drains, 

 the price being the same throughout, it is not neces- 

 sary to keep the two classes separate. 



One precaution it is specially necessary to observe 

 in laying off plantation drains — viz., not to give them 

 too much fall. There is probably more injury done to 

 plantation drains by want of attention to this, than all 



