On Thorough- Draining. 
43 
As regards the expense, in clay soils which dig well, the cost for lahour 
(exclusive of materials) will he, where the drains are 14 or 15 inches deep, 
2s. 6d. per score rod ; when thC drains are from 18 to 30 inches, from 
4^. to 6s., according to the nature of the sub-soil. In hard and gravelly 
land, where the drains cannot be dug freely with the spade, the price must 
vary according to the labour. The top-soil is not often removed by the 
spade; the plough is generally used, and two furrows raised by it before 
the spade-work is commenced. 
Believe me, my very dear Sir, 
Yours very faithfully, 
Woodham Mortimer Place, J. Oxley Parker. 
March 11, 1843. 
IV. Norfolk Draining. By Henry Evans. 
I HAVE taken the earliest opportunity to make inquiries as to the under- 
draining of this county ; and I have preferred Mr. Mach as an authority, 
as I do not believe there is a man in Norfolk who better understands the 
subject. The greater part of his farm is wet and requires under-drain- 
ing ; and, consequently, he is a practical man. I shall take the four 
questions you have proposed to me in their order : — 
Question 1st. — How long the 
practice has lasted. 
Question 2nd. — Over what ex- 
tent of country. 
Question 3rd. — At what 
per pole. 
price 
Question 4th. — At what distance 
and depth. 
An old labourer, above eighty 
years of age, on this farm, says 
that his father was the first who 
bought tools for under-draining in 
this district. He thinks the prac- 
tice has prevailed for a century 
and half. 
Throughout the whole county of 
Norfolk. 
4d. per pole ; but the providing 
materials and casting will add 2d. 
per pole. 
32 inches is the deptli on strong 
sound soil ; but on soft spongy soil 
the depth must depend on circum- 
stances. You will get the drains 
as deep as you can, generally 28 
inches, but very frequently you 
cannot get this depth, as the soil 
boils up as fast as jou remove it. 
The distance will vary from 5 to 8 
yards, but 7 yards is considered 
the average distance. The cost of 
under-draining land will averiige 
about 40^. per acre. 
