THE CULTIVATOR. 
349 
TILES FOR DRAINING. 
It is hoped that the attention of farmers and agricultu-, 
ral societies may be directed to the encouragement of the 
manufacture of this article, as to one of the most impor¬ 
tant aids to successful cultivation. The difficulty of con¬ 
structing durable under-drains in sandy grounds, has 
doubtless been felt by every one who has attempted it to 
any extent; and the frequent severe disappointments and 
vexation caused by the breaking in of the soil during 
heavy rains, a'nd the consequent obstruction of large por¬ 
tions, render it exceedingly desirable to discover some 
means of avoiding these losses. It is believed the only 
effectual one, yet discovered, is the use of tiles. With a 
very few exceptions, these appear to be unknown in this 
country. They will be appreciated, as facilities for their 
general use are increased. 
In the annexed figures, one of the best modes of con¬ 
struction is represented. 
Each piece or tile forms 
an arch about 1 foot long, 
and of a size adapted to circumstances, generally about 3 
inches wide and 3 high, inside. Where the ground is 
very hard, they sometimes rest immediately 
upon it; it is best, however, in all cases, to 
Tiiiplilil use flat plates or “ soles,’ 5 of the same materi¬ 
al, to support the lower edges. These should be a little 
wider than the outside of the tile. The following just 
remarks, as to their shape and construction, are from an 
eminent manufacturer in Ayrshire. “ All tiles should be 
one-fourth higher than wide; the top rather quickly turn¬ 
ed, and the sides nearly perpendicular. Tiles which are 
made to spread out at the lower edge and flat on the top, 
are weak and bad for conveying water. Some people 
prefer tiles with flanges instead of soles; but if placed 
even in a drain with a considerably hard bottom, the 
mouldering of the subsoil by the currents of air and wa¬ 
ter causes them to sink and get deranged.” “ Tiles,” 
says Johnson, “should be smooth on the surface, heavy, 
firm, and ring like cast iron when struck with the knuck¬ 
le. They should be so strong when set, as to allow a 
man, not only to stand, but to leap upon them, without 
breaking. The introduction of machinery in the manu¬ 
facture of drain-tiles, by compressing the clay, and work¬ 
ing it thoroughly in a pug-mill, to prepare it for being 
compressed, has greatly tended to increase the strength 
of tiles. An underburnt as well as an overburnt tile, is 
bad, the former being spongy and absorbing water, and 
ultimately falling down; and the latter is so brittle as to 
break when accidentally struck against any object.” 
It will be perceived by the figure, that the joints of the 
tiles alternate with the joints of the soles, both being of 
equal length. Straw is placed round them before filling 
the ditch, to prevent the washing of the soil through the 
crevices at the joinings, which admit sufficient passage 
for all the water. 
The price of tiles must of course vary with circum¬ 
stances, price of fuel, &c., and their cheapness will also 
be increased with the amount of manufacture and im¬ 
provement of machinery. A machine, invented by the 
Marquis of Tweeddale, driven by one horse, and attend¬ 
ed by one man and two boys, will make 12,000 tiles in a 
day often hours; the clay being previously prepared— 
three or four men being required to produce 1,500 tiles 
by the common way, in the same time. Judge Buel, 
who laid about two miles of tile drain, procured them 
manufactured in Albany, at an expense of twenty-five 
cents per rod, which afforded a passage for the water 4 
inches square. He used boards for the “ soles.” 
It is not known that any well laid tile drain, has ever 
given way or become obstructed; and hence, though 
costing more at the first outlay, they may be the most 
economical in the end. The diminished width needed 
in digging the drain, and the facility in laying them, will 
of course materially lessen the cost of tile-drains. 
J. J. T. 
Ruta bagas should be pulled with a ruta baga hook—a 
tool with a small sharp hoe on one side to top the root 
with one stroke, and two prongs on the other for draw¬ 
ing the root after topped, from the ground. 
TO COLOR SCARLET. 
Mr. Tucker—I have been asked several times within 
a year or two past, how to color scartct. Not possessing 
a practical knowledge of the art of dying, all the infor¬ 
mation I could give was based upon a knowledge of the 
chemical principles involved in the process. Those who 
tried the experiment in accordance with the directions 
given, failed; and as I believed in consequence of not 
procuring the proper Mordant or Tin compound; but all 
said they made a very nice pink. I have felt desirous of 
gratifying that portion of community most interested in 
operations of this kind, and have thought of making the 
inquiry through the columns of the Cultivator; but, hav¬ 
ing a few weeks since read an article in Dr. Ure's Dic¬ 
tionary on Arts, Manufactures, &c. on dying Scarlet, 1 
have taken the liberty of transcribing it for publication 
in your paper, hoping that it will be acceptable to a* 
least some of your female readers, as the present is th* 
usual season for dying woolens. 
Bouillon, or Coloring Bath. —For every pound of cloLt 
or wool, take 14 drachms of cream of tartar, (put into a 
convenient quantity of water.) When the bath is boiling 
and the tartar all dissolved, add 14 drachms of solution 
of tin ( Tin Mordant, which see below,) and let the whole 
boil together during a few minutes. Now introduce the 
cloth, and boil it for two hours; then take it out and le. 
it drain and cool. 
Rougie or Finishing Dye. —(Three modes of preparing 
this are given, either of which may be selected.) Fot 
every pound of woolen stuff take 2 drachms of cream of 
tartar. When it begins to boil, add 1 onnee of cochi¬ 
neal reduced to a fine powder, stir the mixture well wiih a 
rod of willow or any white wood, and let it boil for a 
few minutes. Then pour in by successive portions, 1 oz- 
of solution tin ( Tin Mordant ,) stirring continually wit! 
the rod. Lastly, dye as quickly as possible. The colo- 
will be a beautiful scarlet. 
Second scarlet process. —The Bouillon or coloring bath, 
the same as above given, and always estimated for on* 
pound of stuff. 
Rougie or Finishing Dye. —Take 1 ounce of cochineal 
in fine powder, anti two ounces of Tin Mordant with off 
tartar. 
Third Scarlet process. —The Bouillon being as above. 
Rougie. —For a pound of woolen stuff—take two drachma 
of cream of tartar, one ounce of cochineal, one ounce of 
solution of tin, and two ounces of sea salt, dye as in pro¬ 
cess first. The salt, it is said, helps the (lye to penetrate 
into the cloth. 
Tin Mordant for dying Scarlet. —Pour into a glass 
globe, with a long neck, 3 parts of nitric acid at 30 deg. 
and one part of muriatic acid at 17 deg.; shake the globe 
gently, avoiding the corrosive vapors, and put a loose 
stopper into its mouth. Throw into this nitro-muriatic 
acid one-eighth of its weight of pure tin, in small bits at 
a time. When the solution is complete and settled, de¬ 
cant it into bottles and close them with ground stoppers. 
It should be diluted only when about to be used. When 
the tin compound is prepared as above directed, it may 
be depended upon. The following is often used by dy¬ 
ers, but is an inferior article. 
Mix one pound of nitric acid with one pound of water, 
and dissolve in it an ounce and a half of sal ammoniac. 
Stir it well, and add, by very slow degrees, 2 ounces of 
tin turned into thin ribbands upon the lathe. Yours, 
Clifton Park, Sept. 24, 1844. H. C. C., M. D. 
Potatoe Onions. —The Brockport (N. Y.) Watchman 
says that Mr. J. Greenleaf, of that place, has raised this 
season, 500 bushels of potatoe onions from an acre of 
land. Some of the largest weighed 1A lbs. each, and 
were 17 inches in circumference. This kind of onion is 
thought by seme to be valuable as an early sort—they 
grow wholly in the ground, like the \ otatoe. They are 
said to be mild and palatable. 
Essay on the History, Character and Value of 
Guano, by D. P. Gardner, M. D., New-York. We 
have scarcely had time to glance at this pamphlet, but 
have seen sufficient to satisfy us that it is got up in an in¬ 
teresting and instructive manner. 
