ILLINOIS DAIRYMEN'S ASSOCIATION. 53 



feet spot, leaving no open drains when large tiles would carry the water. 

 In this way I have drained something over 200 acres thoroughly, so that every 

 rod of land in these fields can be plowed and cultivated successfully. 



During my experience in tile draining I have made some mistakes. At 

 first I laid a few tile too small, and not deep enough. These I have mostly 

 replaced by larger tile, laid deeper. 



In the second field drained I made the mistake of having the side drains 

 empty into an open ditch. I have since put large tile into the open ditch, 

 receiving the water from the side drains with only one outlet for something 

 over 400 rods of drain. 



I have found it much better to have only one or two outlets in a field than 

 a large number to keep open, and that all outlets must be thoroughly looked 

 after and cleaned out spring and fall. 



I have found, to make drains the most effective, they must have good, clear 

 outlets, which will not easily fill up, even if the lower end of the drain should 

 not be more than 18 to 24 inches under ground. 



I have found an average depth of 3 feet, and a distance of 5 to 18 rods apart 

 to drain land thoroughly. 



I should never use tile less than 3 inches in diameter, and for mains 5 to 8 

 inches. 



For side drains exceeding 20 to 25 rods in length, I lay the upper half with 

 3-inch and the lower half with 4-inch tile, 



In all long drains and mains the size of the tile must gradually increase in 

 size from the upper end of drain to its outlet ; and in laying the tile, always 

 commence at the upper end of the ditch, but commence digging at the lower 

 end. 



Tile drains to be effective must be straight on the bottom, and a small 

 stream of water running through the ditch is the simplest and surest way to get 

 the bottom of the ditch straight. 



To those who have lands which need draining, I would say : commence on 

 a small scale as soon as possible, and do something at it each year ; and get 

 information upon the subject from reading, observation and experiment ; and, 

 after you have once commenced draining your lands, I predict you will not 

 stop nntil they are thoroughly drained. 



Total in 

 Tile. M. Rods. 



16 3-inch Tile cost $11.00 per M 17.6x25 = 43.6 



16 4 " " " 18.00 " 28.8x85 = 53.8 



16 5 " " " 25.00 " 40 x25 = 65 



16 6 " " •« 35.00 " 56 x 25 = 81 



DISCUSSION. 



Mr. Johnson : Do you figure anything for the cost of hauling the tile from 

 the car to your farm ? 



Answer. No sir, I never figure that. We haul our tile, a good deal of it, 

 in the winter, and have it ready for use in the spring. 



Prof. Henry : What you think is that a man should not go to town with 

 a load and then go home with the wagon empty — and he full, but if he goes 

 home empty and his wagon loaded with tile he can fix it. 



