418 



Farming of Surrey. 



been already effected, much is "being done at the present time, 

 and probably in a few years all will have been accomplished. 

 An instance of the necessity for light-land draining is upon the 

 upper greensand throughout the whole length of the downs. 

 Here the clay of the adjacent stratum of gait preventing the 

 escape of the water which has made its way though the chalk 

 above, it frequently rises to the surface, causing springy places 

 where they might be least expected, were it not that the clay 

 prevents that natural drainage which would otherwise take place. 

 Considerable improvement might be effected by the draining of 

 these spots, for although they do not occur to great extent on 

 any one farm, still they are a constant annoyance where they do 

 exist : they are, nevertheless, frequently allowed to remain, 

 being looked upon as a necessary evil ; and the constant and 

 expensive routine of clod breaking is submitted to as the seasons 

 come round, when one or two drains, properly laid down, would 

 cure the nuisance and render the springy places as dry as the rest 

 of the field. Draining, however, as it is little required, so it is 

 little appreciated, in the light land district ; and in those few 

 instances where it would be beneficial, it is frequently neglected. 

 Consequently, draining is often left undone upon the gait clay, 

 which, as it forms but a narrow strip at the foot of the chalk- 

 ridge, invariably occurs on farms the principal portion of which 

 consist of light land. Of the Weald it may be said, that all that 

 part which has not been drained stands in need of it : much still 

 has to be done, for it is estimated that two-thirds of the Weald yet 

 remain imdrained. The work, however, progresses, and a few 

 more years must render the proportions much more satisfactory. 

 The most approved method now is by the circular pipes, which 

 are put in much deeper than formerly, the usual depth being 

 from 30 to 48 inches. Much draining has also been done upon 

 the London clay, and in several instances the Government loan 

 has been made available for that purpose. The benefit in this 

 district (where the clay is deeper and more productive than in 

 the Weald) is recognised by all ; and although a considerable 

 breadth remains unfinished, it is in rapid progress. A large 

 portion of the land on the banks of the Wey and Mole is ex- 

 ceedingly flat and low, while the number of flour and other mills 

 frequently causes the water to head back, to the great detriment 

 of the land ; hundreds of acres are every year flooded from this 

 cause, and under-drainage is of course out of the question. 

 Pipe-draining is common in the district ; but it has been the 

 practice to put in heather or bushes at a depth of 30 to 36 

 inches, and, from the cohesive nature of the clay, the drains 

 have been found to remain for 20 or 30 years, even after the 

 decay of the material which was used. 



