Farming of Derbyshire, 



35 



tinguish it from furrow-draining-, and may require some further 

 explanation. It was thought desirable that one part of the old- 

 fashioned practice of draining from the bottom, and up to the hill 

 containing the water, should be attended to. Accordingly this 

 plan was to be observed ; but some difficulties presented them- 

 selves. The field to be drained was old grass, and set out in 5 or 6 

 yard lands. To drain this up every furrow was impossible, unless 

 at a great expense, and the quantity of tiles required would exhaust 

 any moderate supply. It was therefore proposed that the drains, 

 instead of being taken up the furrows, should be taken up alter- 

 nate ridges, as given in the section, through the whole field. The 

 arguments advanced in favour of this plan are, — " that it is as 

 likely to catch the springs by going up the ridge as the furrow 

 " that the work is done at half the cost ;" " that rain-water falling 

 on the surface and the ridges soon finds its way into the furrow, 

 and from the furrows, by percolation, into the drains." It is 

 obvious that under this plan, where the lands are 5 yards vv^ide, 

 the drains will be 10 yards apart, but the collected waters in the 

 furrows will only be 2i yards from the drains ; and if, to use 

 Mr. Arkwright's own words, " the drains won't draw 5 or 6 feet, 

 it is of no use draining at all." This, then, is the theory and 

 practice of Ridge- draining versus Furrow-draining — a principle 

 which appears to answer well, but may require time to confirm 

 it in general estimation. My object in giving this explanation 

 is to note the state of drainage as I find il, and not offer any 

 opinion on its merits. Time will determine its advantages, and 

 time will not wait. Before quitting the subject of draining at 

 Sutton, I will briefly notice a plan pursued by myself in draining 

 a field of cold, wet, and nearly flat close of land, near the edge of 

 the magnesian lime. 



Section of Diagonal-draining. 

 Air drain. Air drain. 



