THE CULINARY GARDEN. 



53 



nant at their roots, by obstructing perspiration and intro-sus- 

 ception ; and whenever that be the case, they soon become 

 diseased and ultimately die. 



The process of draining is performed in a variety of ways, 

 according to the soil to be operated upon, and the materials of 

 which they are to be constructed. Oui' limits will not admit 

 of entering into the details of the different varieties and sub- 

 varieties of di-aining, neither is it at all necessary for our pur- 

 pose, as the extent of ground, under the most unfavourable 

 circumstances in the formation of a garden, is capable of being 

 rendered perfectly dry by the ordinary methods of draining. 



Water, like all other fluids, remains stationary when ob- 

 structed, but when unobstructed, proceeds by the force of its 

 own gravity. A tube filled with water, and placed perfectly 

 horizontally, with both ends open, the liquid will flow equally 

 at both ends ; but elevate one of the ends of the tube, and 

 the water will flow out at the other with a rapidity propor- 

 tionable to the elevation of the tube and the weight or quan- 

 tity of water it contains. In the process of draming, there- 

 fore, the main or principal drains should be formed on an 

 inclined plane, into which the smaller or collecting drains 

 should empty themselves, and the greater the fall of the prin- 

 cipal drains, the more readily will they discharge the water 

 collected in them. The principal drains should commence at 

 a considerable distance from the garden, so as to admit of 

 their discharging their contents at a proper distance from it, 

 and they should extend in a direction towards the hot-houses, 

 sheds, or other horticultural erections, and also to those 

 points, which indicate any appearance of springs or superabund- 

 ance of moisture; and, as we have before noticed, for the 

 greater facility of repairing or examining them at any future 

 period, they should run under the walks as far as the nature 

 of the situation will admit. 



The materials of which di'ains are composed are various, 

 and depend on the facility with which they can be procured. 

 In situations, where stones can be had, they make the best 

 and most lasting drains ; flints, chalk in large pieces, which 

 have not been exposed to the air for any length of time, and 

 brick-bats, are all excellent materials for drains. Brush-wood 



