288 



Farming of Cumberland. 



used every year, and are found both economical and serviceable ; 

 but hitherto they have had some prejudice to encounter. 



Elkington's system of boring for water in the drains has been 

 tried with good effect in some instances ; but, speaking generally, 

 the subsoil is of too clayey a nature, to a considerable depth, to 

 derive great benefit from that operation. 



Ventilating the drains on Mr. Hutchinson's plan, of conducting 

 the pipes or tiles at the head of the drains out to the open air, 

 thus giving increased action to the air and water in the drains 

 by admitting a current at the head, has been partially adopted, 

 with satisfactory results, so-^far as the trials have gone. But it 

 must be evident to all who have had experience in draining, and 

 studied it most, that both theory and practice are yet defective,^ 

 and we have still something to learn belonging to it. The 

 greatest defect seems to be the want of permanejit action. Thou- 

 sands of acres have been drained on the various systems of the 

 different periods ; and though we have reasons to hope and believe 

 that the deep drains of the present day approach nearer the 

 standard of perfection than any of the former systems, it is diffi- 

 cult to find a single farm in the county so completely drained as 

 not to require partial re-draining : some portion not acting so 

 satisfactorily as to be pronounced perfect. It is notorious that a 

 great extent has been drained a second, and some even a third 

 time, and that a considerable portion of drained clays require 

 some draining again. After the drains have run a few years in 

 the heavy soils, they seem partly to abate in their action,"]" and 

 some to cease altogether. The subsoil-plough, by stirring the 

 strata immediately below the bed of the common plough, renews 

 in some degree the action of the drains for a time. But the soil 

 soon " sits down again," as it is termed, the clay cracks, and 

 worm-holes cease to act, the land becomes stiff and cold, espe- 

 cially when in grass, and shows symptoms of excess of moisture, 

 though the drainage may have been tolerably well executed and 

 planned, according to the practice of the day. The clay soils of 

 West Cumberland seem specially endowed with this quality, 

 having less of the sand- veins and porous substrata in their com- 

 position than those of the principal part of the eastern division, 

 where the under strata alternate in layers of clay and sand ; 

 and there draining acts more quickly, and with greater permanence 

 and effect. 



The extent of draining already performed may be tolerably 

 estimated from the number of tiles manufactured within the 



* It may be that ventilation of di-ains may effect the desired result. Clay land 

 drained in that way in 1847 appears favourable so far. 



+ Some drains may be found which have acted for generations, and even sod and 

 "wood drains have been known to run well for 50 or 60 years. 



