30 
On Thoroiigh-DiainiiKj. 
considerable farm in my nei2:bbourhoo(l, belonging to Sir Henry 
Leslie, of Cockerell's Hall, heretofore neglected, is now under- 
going this operation, mainly, I believe, in consequence of the 
shortness of the straw-crop of 1842. The tenant informs me that 
some drains cut upon the farm six years ago, according to this 
principle, are now running well. 
Sometimes faggot-wood is laid along the bottom of the drain 
with haulm over it, the water finding its way through the wood ; a 
great portion of Clopton Hall Farm was drained in this way some 
thirty years ago : this mode is expensive, and is adopted by new 
men only, who feel misgivings (which are not warranted by ex- 
perience) as to the stability of stubble-draining. 
But, better than all, peat cut for the purpose in the fens of 
Cambridgeshire, in length 15 inches, and 3 inches square, is 
pressed gently into the top of the narrow drain, and the earth 
thrown in upon it ; the peat swells speedily, and becomes firmly 
fixed, and is very durable, and has this advantage over the 
methods already specified, and also over tile-draining, that a fold- 
stake driven into it commits no damage. In peat-draining, when 
we come to stony or gravelly spots, two pieces of peat, instead of 
one, or one and a half, are placed in side by side ; or, in bad cases, 
the sides of the drain are built with turf, as well as the top. 
Stubble, heath, hop-binds, straw, are quickly decomposed and 
washed away; peat remains. Sir H. Davy says, " Inert peaty 
matter remains for years exposed to water and air without under- 
going change." * 
In draining pasture-land we only go one bout with the common 
plough ; then one sjiit with the broad spade, and one with the 
narrow : sometimes the narrow spade is used immediately after 
the plough ; and we do not drain pasture so closely as arable 
land. 
As for expense: in 1841, when day wages (not the average 
weekly earnings throughout the year, which are one-third more 
than the dady wages usually quoted) were lOs. per week and 
beer, the broad and narrow spade-work and filling in was done 
for 4.9. per score rods, of 16^ feet to the rod ; or 32*. per acre if 
the drains are a rod apart, and 6d. extra for each eye, and good 
earnings made : half a score poles in winter is about a day's work. 
If the ground is stony, the work is longer in hand ; but the drainer 
is paid per bushel for the stones thrown out, which are carted into 
the roads. 
The expense of filling up depends on the material used ; 
* The writer caused one of his peat-drains to be cut transversely by a 
sharp spade, and found the peat firmly fixed; a portion of it had in- 
sinuated itself between the shoulder of the narrow drain and the loose 
earth thrown upon it, presenting the appearance of the head of a nail. 
