258 
On Draining. 
deep, had been renioved by this one drain. The upper line of 
pipes answered to rain and removed it, but the observers do not 
think that any, or much, of this water has reached the lower 
drain. The land is now reported to me as giving way in cracks 
to a greater depth than formerly, so that an efficient drainage 
may be ultimately expected. The foUowmg is an analysis of the 
clays in question taken at 22 inches and 4 feet 6 inches deep re- 
spectively beneath the surface, by Mr. Phillips. 
Clay at Clay at 
22 inches 4 feet 6 inches 
per cent. per cent. 
Silica 59-0 72-9 
Alumina 23-5 13-4 
Peroxide of iron . . . • . 8*1 6*6 
Carbonate of lime . . . . I'O 0*8 
Water, with a little carbonaceous matter,, 
slight traces of magnesia, and sulphate of I 8" 4 5*5 
lime and loss . . . . . j 
Carbonate of magnesia . . . 0"0 9*8 
100-0 100.0 
This is only one out of numerous examples which I could cite 
of the lower clay of a field being more porous than that nearer 
the surface. Beds of gravel, sand, or mixed earth also often pre- 
vail under superficial clay at depths not too great to allow drainage 
to be made at distances considerably wider than if the drains 
were laid in the clay, effecting thereby the removal of the subter- 
ranean water, permitting the descent of rain water, and causing a 
less outlay of money. 
The capillary force, or succulency, of soils varies greatly, and is 
often very noticeable. It has occurred to me in digging test 
holes previous to drainage, to find the water standing in them not 
nearer the surface than 3 feet, yet the surface soil has been so wet 
that water would drop from it on squeezing with the hands. This 
exhibition would determine me to bleed such soils to the depth of 
5 feet at least, and such drainage has been accompanied with 
complete success. 
Although I am not a practical farmer, I think that T may very 
confidently recommend to farmers the laying land absolutely flat 
after efficient drainage. It is the practice of many good agricul- 
turists in the stilTcst clays, who consider that even a crease left on 
the surface is injurious to drainage. In addition to several recorded 
opinions on that head, 1 will quote a letter recently received from 
Mr. Andrew Thom])Son, the intelligent bailiff of the Right Ho- 
nourable Charles Arbuthnot, who has drained part of his farm — 
a very strong clay — 4 feet deep, and whose account of the effects 
is to be found in the last Journals. 
