286 



On the Drainage of Land. 



his mind as to tlie expediency of undertaking itj witliout being 

 heedlessly drawn into those losses which have been so often occa- 

 sioned by inexperienced drainers. If determined upon, the object 

 is not unfrequently carried into effect by labourers who undertake 

 the work by the job." It is, however, so much their interest to 

 slur it over with as little trouble as possible, that they must be 

 more than commonly honest if they do not endeavour to cheat 

 their employer by doing it imperfectly. It is, therefore, perhaps 

 better to employ day-labourers ; but, in either case, the operation 

 should be committed to the inspection of some steady fellow, who 

 must take care not to allow a foot of drain to be filled up without 

 closely examining the manner in which it has been done.* 



A great degree of local observation regarding the nature of the 

 ground, combined with practical knowledge and skill in the exe- 

 cution of the work, is requisite in cutting off the water of the 

 springs at their source. If not done effectually at first, the drains 

 must afterwards be deepened at considerable additional cost ; 

 whereas one deep drain, if judiciously placed, will generally pre- 

 clude the necessity of any other ; and should any doubt be enter- 

 tained respecting the proper depth, the safest way is to make it 

 rather too deep than too shallow. This, however, applies solely 

 to those main-springs which lie far below the surface of the 

 ground; for the injurious effects of land-springs are, as already 

 observed, very commonly remedied by open drains. As these are 

 apt to be dried up in summer^ the farmer is, notwithstanding, 

 often reconciled to bear with their pernicious consequences ; and 

 we thus see vast tracts of meadov/ left by this practice in a state 

 of marsh, though it is a very ill-judged economy, as the expense 

 of drainage Vvould soon be repaid by improvement in the sward. f 

 Whether these springs be perpetual or only temporary, they 



* " The doing the work insufficiently is often nearly as bad as the leaving 

 it undone. The defects of half-draining frequently ca.nnot be discovered 

 until a great loss has been sustained, and to remedy such defects it is for the 

 most part necessary to make new drains entirely, which generally cost as 

 much, and in many cases more, than the first outlay." "As an instance in 

 point — the expense of lifting drains which had been imperfectly formed in 

 a field of the estate of Lord Strathallan, in Perthshire, and which had thus 

 stopped or become blown, and the water forced to the surface, was 16/. 10^., 

 and the cost of new drains was only 13/. 145." — Stephens on " Furrow- 

 Draining," Quart. Journal of Agric, N.S., vol. iii. pp. 291, 292. 



f " There is a field on the estate of the Earl of Leicester, at Longford, in 

 this county, which some years ago was occupied by Mr. John Sherratt, and 

 brought forth rushes in such abundance that he gave leave to anybody who 

 would be at the trouble of mowing to carry them away. Three years ago the 

 field was drained ; and this year vve are told the present occupier, Mr. T. 

 Robinson, has cut three tons an acre of as nice herbage as ever grew." — 

 Derbyshire Chronicle, 25th July, 1841. 



