94 



Farming of Northamptonshire. 



description, but it was a very expensive affair ; the drains were 

 obliged to be about 16 feet deep. John Smith, Esq., of Thornby 

 Grange, has erected some new farm-buildings, the site of which 

 previously was a complete bog. He commenced by drainage, 

 and succeeded in cutting off the supply of water, which he now 

 applies, by the aid of a water-wheel, to the purposes of thrashing 

 his corn and cutting chaff with considerable success. 



The most durable drains now in existence are made with 

 stone. Main-drains are now running freely that have been laid 

 from twenty to thirty years ; they are generally formed by stones 

 placed in the following forms, V A, at the bottom of the drain, 

 over which broken stones are placed, thus forming a safe and 

 durable drain. When used to furrow-drain arable land, they are 

 either put in edgeways, or they are broken small, and the lowest 

 chad or spit is filled with them, on the top of which is placed 

 some straw. 



Draining-tiles, in this form H, have been used extensively, 

 and form a good channel for water ; but when used without soles 

 they have been liable to sink into the ground and become blocked 

 up. They are now superseded by the circular pipes. 



In woodland districts, where blackthorn wood can be readily 

 and cheaply obtained, it is used very extensively for furrow- 

 draining. The thorns are put in either tied up in small bundles 

 or loose at the bottom of the drain, and trodden in very closely 

 previous to the drain being filled in. Where the subsoil consists 

 of a stiff clay they will last for some years, leaving a cavity after 

 the wood has become decomposed ; but on sharp gravelly or 

 sandy subsoils the drain becomes useless as the wood decays. 

 Stubble-straw alone has been used for draining, but this practice 

 has entirely ceased ; when used, it was either twisted tightly to- 

 gether, in the form of a rope, or compressed closely at the bottom 

 of the drain. 



During the last seven years a new system, which may be 

 designated " Mr. Parkes's plan of drainage," has been carried out 

 to a considerable extent in many parts of the county ; a very 

 similar system having previously been followed by the Hon. C. 

 Arbuthnot, on a large farm in his own occupation at Woodford. 

 He then departed from the general system of " high lands " and 

 " furrow-draining," by laying the drains according to the natural 

 fall for the water, and levelling the surface of the land. 



In the years 1846 and 1847 much draining was done on the 

 estate of Lord Pomfret : a pipe-tile yard was erected, and a 

 very considerable part of the estate in the parishes of Towcester, 

 Easton Neston, and Shuttlehanger, was drained. The drains 

 were cut 11 yards apart and 4 feet deep, and a percentage was 

 charged to the tenants upon the amount expended. The work 



