286 



Farming of Cumherland. 



Another smaller field was also drained, of whicli he does not 

 recollect the extent or cost ; but the whole length of drains in the 

 two fields was 1700 roods. 



The late Mr. Dalzell, of Stockhow Hall, and others also, re- 

 ceived draining prizes about the same period ; and greater merit 

 was then awarded to the extent executed than to the quality of 

 the work. The system then generally prevailing was the 

 diagonal. 



In 1821 Sir J. Graham brought an experienced tile-maker 

 from Staffordshire, and established the manufacture of drain-tiles 

 on the Netherby estate — this being the first attempt of the kind 

 in the county. 



A considerable degree of doubt and suspicion existed among 

 the tenants and others that the small cavity of the tile might be 

 insufficient for its intended purpose, and that its thin substance 

 and fragile nature * were not calculated for long endurance. The 

 confidence which Sir James exhibited in the success of his plan, 

 the large amount of money he expended in it, and, above all, the 

 great improvement so quickly developed in the land on which he 

 operated, soon induced his tenants to enter into his views, and to 

 cart and put in the tiles (which he supplied gratis to them) under 

 the superintendence of his agent ; and in this way 40 miles of 

 drains were annually executed for some years. The success of 

 this experiment set others to think about it, and in 1824 other tile- 

 works were begun. In that year Mr. R. Lucock established the 

 first tile-work in the western division, and soon after, the encou- 

 ragement he met with induced and enabled him to commence 

 other works, and by degrees the manufacture spread over the 

 county. 



About 1835 the mania for shallow draining began to exhibit 

 itself, and soon arrived at an absurd pitch. The depth was gra- 

 dually lessened to 20 inches, and even to 18 and 16 inches, and 

 many hundreds of acres were attempted to be drained in this very 

 imperfect way. The rapidity with which these shallow things 

 could be executed led people to try it who ought to have known 

 better ; and after it had been practised for a few years, the dis- 

 covery began to be made that an immense expenditure had been 

 incurred, and a great deal of harm done. The tiles being so near 

 the surface, carried away the rain-water and manure held in 

 solution by it, while the subsoil remained as wet and destructive 

 to the crops as ever. On several farms the deep ploughing of modern 

 times has occasionally torn up tiles from the shallow drains, and at 

 once, if other reasons had been wanting, led to the conviction that 

 deeper drains were necessary. The doctrine of deep draining 



* A tenant of Sir Wastell Brisco actually refused to allow his landlord to put in 

 the " pot things," as he called them, on his farm at Spittal near Wigton. 



