174 
SHOULDER LAMENESS. 
the whole field, no matter how undulating the 
surface, make all the rows level. If planters 
could be persuaded to plow deep, that is, eight 
or ten inches, and use the subsoil plow in stiff 
lands, this would answer a very good purpose 
without ditches. But as that will not soon be 
done, the next step is to cover the whole ground 
with a series of open drains, sufficient to take 
up all the water that falls upon the. side hill, and 
conduct it safely away. 
As the whole value of the improvement con¬ 
sists in the accuracy with which this work is 
done, the first step necessary is, to provide good 
instruments. The cheapest and best one for 
plantation engineers is what is called the rafter 
level. To make this implement, cut out two 
strips of light pine, one inch by three, a little 
over twelve feet long and put them together in 
a triangle with a stiff girder between, three feet 
from the bottom, so that you have a true triangle 
of exactly twelve feet sides, one of which is open. 
Now set it upon its feet exactly level, and then, 
at a convenient height for the person who 
is to use it, put another girder across with a 
spirit level setting on it. Fasten one end of 
this cross bar with a stout screw, and then 
bring the other end to a point that indicates 
level and fasten it. Reverse the feet of the 
rafter to prove your plain is level, and your in¬ 
strument true. Now if you take this to the field 
and move it along a given line, that line will be 
an exact level. To lay off a ditch with a 
fall that experience has proved to be about 
right, screw on a block so as to raise one foot 
of the rafter three inches, and as the feet are 
just twelve feet apart, that gives you a fall of 
three inches to every twelve feet, or a grade of 
100 feet to the mile, which will carry the water 
without any danger of washing, particularly as 
the ditch will grow up in grass during summer. 
If, however, the ditch is very long and has to 
carry a great deal of water, it may be more 
safe to lower the grade towards the outlet to two 
or two and a half inches to the rafter space. 
One of the great secrets of success in such 
ditches, is to make them of ample dimensions, 
and so near together that a gully cannot form 
between them. The rows being level and the 
ditches on a grade will cross many of the rows, 
so that an accumulation of water sufficient to 
break over and form a wash, will find its way 
out of the end of the row into the ditch, and so 
be conducted safely out of the field. 
If the outlet of the ditches can be carried into 
the woods, or into some other situation where it 
will not form a gully, it should always be done. 
Make the ditches broad and round so they can 
be crossed over with a plow, and be cleaned out 
with a dirt scraper. If you find at any time 
they are wearing, put dams across or other ob¬ 
structions sufficient to prevent the difficulty. 
No definite rule can be given how near together 
these ditches must be placed, as that will de¬ 
pend upon the pitch of the hill and texture of 
the soil—they may vary from five to fifty yards 
apart. 
Besides saving the land, side-hill ditches, 
wherever tried effectually, have greatly increas¬ 
ed the product of the land. The reason of that 
is obvious. Rain water contains a great deal 
of fertilising property. If it runs off suddenly, 
not only that is lost, but a great deal more is 
carried with it. When it is held by the ditches, 
it penetrates through the lower bank of the 
ditch and enriches the land below, so as to show 
a visible increase upon several rows of corn or 
cotton. It is a system of artificial irrigation, 
which, like that system wherever practised, 
makes the land more productive. 
Some persons object to level rows, because, 
upon a very hilly field, it makes the rows too 
long. This objection is easily obviated by 
turning at every ditch crossing, or if you prefer 
it, make as many short rows as you like, but do 
not stop the ditch so long as it will run upon 
that grade; keep winding around the hills,.and 
whenever the line comes to an old wash, fill up 
below and cross it, unless it is past all hope of 
redemption ; and even then, it is better to carry 
the water from it than empty the ditches into it. 
After a very hard rain, the owner, overseer, or 
some competent driver ought to go over all 
the ditches and see where there are any de¬ 
fects, or any alterations required, and if any 
breach has been made in a new ditch, have it 
repaired at once. 
-- 
SHOULDER LAMENESS. 
A few days ago, we went to see a mare which 
had been lame for many weeks past, and had 
her near fore leg repeatedly and severely blister¬ 
ed from the foot to the knee, under the suspicion 
that the seat of mischief was somewhere cover¬ 
ed by the application. The practitioner in at¬ 
tendance did not pretend to state either the pre¬ 
cise situation or nature of the disease causing 
lameness, but chose, nevertheless, to be doing 
something by way of remedy. The owner of 
the mare finding she did not improve, and being 
doubtful of the practitioner’s knowledge of the 
case, requested him to discontinue any further 
attendance. When the mare was made to walk 
she did not betray any great amount of actual 
