On the Advantage of Deep Drainage. 



499 



drained. It was the more satisfactory, as I knew that Mr. Ben- 

 nett was a very sensible, and, in agriculture, a very practical 

 gentleman. 



On the 4th of the present month (October) the Duke of 

 Bedford wrote to me as follows : — 



" I have not been able to find the Report you asked for about draining, 

 but I spoke to ray steward, Mr. Bennett, on the subject the other day, and 

 I have since received from him the enclosed letter. These last rains have 

 caused great floods in Beds and Northamptonshire. Mr. Bennett has 

 looked at several of the drains since, and finds his deep ones again acting 

 best. Return his letter, but take a copy of it if you please." 



Thus writes the Duke of Bedford, and towards the end of his 

 letter he reverts again to the subject of draining. He says : — 



" I went in August to Castle Howard, where I saw a field that had been 



drained. Half by shallow ; the other half by Mr. Parkes deep. 



The advantages of the latter were very great, both as to cost and effect." 



Having quoted parts of the Duke of Bedford's letter, I will 

 now give a copy of Mr. Bennett's letter to his Grace, which I 

 have been allowed to make use of as I please. The following is 

 Mr. Bennett's letter:— 



" Park Farm Office, 3rd Oct. 1848. 



" Mr Lord Uuee, 



" In reference to the question your Grace asked me about draining, 

 I beg to inform you that when the work was first begun in the park the 

 drains were put in 30 inches deep and 1 pole apart. They have gra- 

 dually been increased in depth and distance apart up to 4^ feet, and in 

 some instances 5 feet deep, and 11 yards and in some cases more apart. 

 After last spring, which was the longest continued wet we had experienced 

 since the work was done, I found the deepest drained land was the soundest 

 and the driest to ride over. I do not know whether I may be classed as a 

 convert to deep draining or not, for I always was of opinion the nature of 

 the subsoil ought to regulate the depths of draining, and that one uniform 

 depth would not suit all places alike. 



" I find the 11 yards apart is on strong clay land as great a distance as 

 can be depended on, but I have some at 15 yards which answers exceed- 

 ingly well, the subsoil being more porous. 



" I have the honour to be 



" Your Grace's most obedient servant, 



" Thomas Bennett. 



tl To his Grace the Duke of Bedford." 



After what I have written, and after what I have heard from 

 others, it will not I think surprise any one that I should be an 

 advocate for deep drainage. The gentlemen who have given a 

 different opinion to Mr. B. Webster must know best what they 

 think is suitable to the land they occupy. I say nothing against 

 their expressed opinion, except only that in more instances than 

 one I have observed that the land drained by them was a flat, 

 from which, without an adequate fall, or without methods attain- 

 able for the purpose, it would not be possible for deep drains to 



