Mole-draining and the Renovation of Old Pipe Drains. 87 
It is assumed that the farmer will do the hauling free of 
charge. 
The cheapest field to drain would be one ten chains wide 
with an even fall and as long as you like, in which case a 
chain of main will drain an acre. The cost of mole-draining 
a field will vary according as to whether the old mains can be 
utilized or not, and as to whether the shape and fall of the 
field necessitates extra mains. Mole drains are measured from 
the eye to the spot where the mole begins to be lifted up. 
I have taken the cost of mole-draining by steam engines 
because I have no figures as to the cost of the old mole 
draining -which was done with a mole plough drawn by 
bullocks. A farmer tells me that on grass w r ith a capstan fixed 
at one end of a field worked with two or three horses he can 
drain with a mole plough about eighty chains per day, 12 in. 
to 14 in. deep, having first ploughed a furrow 6 in. deep. A 
well-known land owner informs me that wdth his plough, 
pulled direct by nine horses, ten acres a day 18 in. to 20 in. 
deep could be drained, and he adds that the draining was 
carried out in winter at odd times. Both of these methods 
seem cheaper than steam, but I am inclined to think that the 
work is not so good as when done with a heavy mole plough 
pulled without jerking by a double rope working round a 
wheel. When the mole plough is drawn direct by bullocks 
or horses the land may become poached and any growing crops 
would inevitably be damaged. 
Such ploughs are usually pulled by nine horses, three 
abreast, and they consist of a wooden beam in. by 7 in. 
and 6 ft. long, which runs on the ground, and on the front end 
of it is a coulter 11 in. deep. The mole itself is 14 in. long, 
3 in. in diameter, and tapered ; it is fastened on to a cutting 
bar, 3 in. by 1 in., arranged so as to be adjustable to depths 
varying from 1 ft. 9 in. to 12 in. It has ordinary plough 
handles. 
The question will be asked how long will mole-draining 
last. It is not easy to generalise, for I know grass fields 
drained about thirty years ago which are still quite dry, 
whilst on the other hand I know fields drained ten years ago 
which are now quite waterlogged. The answer to the question 
depends on whether the work was done well and with judg- 
ment, and whether the subsoil was suitable. Given these 
conditions, and they are not difficult to obtain on heavy, wet 
lands, mole-draining should be safe for fifteen years if not 
for twenty-five years. 
It w-ill be seen therefore at a cost of sometimes more and 
sometimes less than one ploughing the water can be drained 
off a field. Surely mole-draining is worthy of far greater 
