10 
On the Farming of Essex. 
the two modes in the annexed diagram will show the superiority 
of the first-described plan : — 
Position of wood. 
£otfom of-Jh-ain 
Lowest Knd. 
Course of the water from A to B. 
After the wood is placed, the straw, which should be long and 
straight, is placed upon the top about 3 inches thick, and firmly 
trod down by the workmen passing along upon it, putting it down 
at the sides of the drain, with both hands at the same time, which 
he effects as he walks along. The drain is then filled in with the 
soil that was taken out, unless it is stiff, tenacious loam, which is 
cast aside and supplied by the upper surface-soil ; but if the soil 
is white chalk-clay, it is best to put it direct upon the straw, as it 
forms an arch more substantial than soil of a porous quality. 
Some persons have the wheel of a heavily loaded cart drawn 
along the drain, whilst others condemn the practice altogether ; 
but my own observation has led me to approve of the plan, unless 
the soil should be of an extraordinarily stiff character. Care 
should be taken to put larger wood at the ends of the main drains, 
so that they may be afterwards easily found ; and to prevent 
rabbits, moles, rats, and other vermin destroying them, which 
they will do unless great care is taken to prevent it ; but the 
better plan is to fill them for about 3 feet with 2-inch earthen 
pipes, by which security is obtained against such accidents. 
Other methods are prevalent, and one most in use is by having a 
piece of wood, about 6 feet in length and three inches in depth, and 
made to fit the bottom of the drain in width ; this is wetted, and 
placed at the bottom of the drain, upon which the soil taken out is 
rammed to the thickness of 3 or 4 inches. By the assistance of a 
lever attached to a chain fastened to this plug, as it is termed, it 
is drawn forward as the work proceeds, and thus a hollow drain 
is left, equal to about 3 inches diameter, which answers extremely 
well upon sound chalky clay soils, but should never be adopted 
upon very stiff loams, as the ramming of such descriptions of soil 
would cause it to become so compact as to prevent the water 
finding admission into the drains at all. These two methods are 
more prevalent than any others, and indeed are almost the only 
ones adopted in this district ; and, if well executed, will continue 
to act well for fourteen or twenty years. It is necessary that the 
drains should be cut transversely with the stetches, to prevent 
the horses, during wet seasons, treading them in, which they most 
certainly would do if the drains were cut in the direction in which 
the horses walk during the ploughing of the land. 
Another system is introduced with excellent success ; viz., by 
