ROAD-MAKING AND DRAINING 129 



should be ascertained by a competent surveyor, if the 

 colonist himself is not able to do the work. The courses 

 of the main drains should follow as near as possible the 

 natural fall of the land. The character of the outfall 

 should be clearly ascertained, in case it should be such 

 as would allow a block to occur (not an uncommon thing) 

 which might cause damage to the estate. All drains should 

 be regularly overhauled at stated periods, cleared where 

 necessary, and deepened or graded where required. On 

 most estates the axiom " the better the drainage the better 

 the crop " is well understood. It is, of course, obvious 

 that a hill-side requires little artificial drainage in order to 

 take away water, and such drainage should be entirely 

 devoted to the proper carrying away of storm waters, so as 

 not to allow them to do damage to the cacao fields by 

 carrying away land and trees. 



