DRAINAGE (BORING) 
Another method is to reach the porous stratum by means of a boring tool. 
The plant consists of a pair of sheers or tripod, a pulley wheel, and a boring 
tool to be turned by hand. With these a lawn can be drained without doing it 
any damage at all. Make a wooden platform about 6 ft. square, with a hole 
cut in the centre large enough to take the boring,tool. Erect the sheers and 
pulley wheel over this. You now take the boring tool, which is for all the world 
like a large gimlet, and twist it into the earth, pulling it out every few minutes by 
means of the wheel so as to remove the loosened soil. By this means it is quite 
easy to sink drains to a depth of 20 or 30 ft. The wooden platform takes all the 
wear and dirt, and so prevents the work from injuring the turf. The number 
of drains required constructed in this way would depend upon the tenacity of 
the soil, but, as a rule, 10 ft. apart would be found to be a useful distance. The 
drains can be finished by either filling them to within a foot of the surface with 
shingle, or else by lining them with drain pipes. If the latter method be chosen 
the pipes must be lowered into position carefully, otherwise they will break. 
The best way to do this is to take a piece of wood slightly longer than the 
diameter of the pipe, to the centre of the stick fix a strong piece of cord, thread 
the pipes upon the cord, and lower into position. Finish off the drain by placing 
an inverted flower pot over it, and filling up the remaining distance with 
porous soil. 
LEVELLING. 
All small irregularities of the surface should be corrected when digging 
and preparing the ground. 
A level lawn can be made on a slope by taking soil from the high ground, 
and placing it upon the low ground. On a deep soil this is very simple. In 
many cases where the soil is not very deep a level surface can be obtained by 
employing imported soil, but the bottom should always be loosened up first of 
all. When soil is imported for the purpose, and it is of uniform quality, it can 
be shot down where needed, and trodden down firmly, the surface being made 
even as the work proceeds ; but, on the other hand, if the brought soil is of 
different qualities, it must be spread over in layers, keeping the stiff soil at the 
bottom, and the more friable on the surface. It is not advisable to go to- 
the expense of work of this kind unless one is prepared to put at least 6 or 8 ins. 
of good light soil upon the surface. The usual method employed in levelling 
land is to drive stout pegs into the soil at equal distances, let us say 6 ft. apart ; 
Only City Address: 53A, Queen Victoria Street, E.C. 
