150 



Drainage of Hethel Wood Farm. 



the water ; but when the stems once become coated with this 

 clayey substance^ and the air excluded thereby, the decomposition 

 of the wood ceases3 as is proved by taking out some of the wood 

 which has been buried for years, and appears to be nearly as 

 sound as the day it was put in. The cost of this, with trenches 

 10 yards apart and 2 feet 6 inches deep, is said to be about 355. 

 per acre. 



In the system of drainage adopted at Hethel Wood Farm it 

 has been attempted in every instance to prevent the water from 

 the higher and more inclined surfaces from running upon or into 

 the lower land. Upon the more inclined surfaces the drains have 

 been laid upon an average of 4 feet deep and 30 feet apart. 

 Upon the lowest lands they have been laid 24 feet apart and 

 4 feet deep. 



The lowest lands during the whole of last winter were very 

 wet, and the surface so charged with water, that in walking across 

 them the foot would sink in ankle deep. These wet lands were 

 the first drained^ which was at the beginning of February last. 

 The quantity of rain which fell during the early part of the spring 

 clearly showed, by the body of water discharged by the drains, 

 and the improved appearance of the land, that ample drainage 

 has been effected ; and there can be little doubt, after the expira- 

 tion of the present summer, and the cracking of the soil between 

 the drains has been effected and new channels thereby formed, 

 that increased efficiency of the drainage will ensue during the com- 

 ing winter. The pipes which have been used for the minor 

 drains are 1-} inch in diameter. The pipes for the main drains 

 varied in size from 3 to 5 inches, according to the quantity of 

 water which they might have to discharge. The subsoil dug out, 

 consisting of clay mixed with chalk nodules and occasional sand- 

 pockets, which vary from 3 to 5 inches in diameter, was thought 

 to be valuable for spreading on the surface. This opinion was 

 confirmed by that intelligent and practical agriculturist, Mr. 

 John Hudson, of Castleacre, Norfolk. The quantity amounted 

 to about 90 loads per acre. This dressing must produce an 

 effect upon the land, and make it, in conjunction with drainage, 

 more pervious to moisture, and afford greater facility for the roots 

 of plants to expand, and also tend to decompose the free acids, 

 and also those in combination, existing in the soil in a natural 

 state, and inimical to vegetation. 



I was very desirous that the existing open drains should be 

 filled in with proper-sized pipes, by which the chance of neglect 

 of keeping them clear would be obviated, and a considerable sur- 

 face of land would thereby have been acquired ; but the high 

 price demanded for such pipes in the locality precluded their use. 

 As regards the system adopted in executing the work, it may be 



