408 WISCONSIN STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
striking down the bars, is of course, thrown out as the work is 
proceeded with. After the butt-ends of the trees (which are 
divested of their branches in the woods), are severed and placed 
transversely in the drains in the manner just described, the re¬ 
mainder of them are laid longitudinally above the bars, three 
being commonly placed side by side, and covered with branches 
and twigs previous to putting in the earth thrown out in digging 
the drains. This kind of drain can be only used when the sub¬ 
soil is sufficiently cohesive, to afford a proper support to the 
transverse bars of wood. The longitudinal spars are to be laid 
as closely as possible, with the top and butt ends alternately in 
the same direction so as to make them fit the better. 
There is thus formed beneath the wood a channel for the pas¬ 
sage of water of about six inches in width and the same in 
depth. In replacing the earth a plow with a long double-tree 
attached, so that the horses can work, one on each side of the 
ditch, will diminish the labor very much. 
2d. In making my ditches with stones, I proceeded in the 
same manner in digging them, but made them only about 20 
inches wide at the top, and from 2 1-2 to 3 feet deep—about 
one foot wide at the bottom. I draw small stones from my 
fields and place them near the ditches ; then pave the bottom 
of the ditches with those of a medium size, by setting them on 
the small end as closely as convenient, placing the flat ones 
next to the bank to prevent it from caving ; the largest are next 
used and thrown in promiscuously, being careful not to throw 
them against the sides of the ditch. I then complete the stone 
work by leveling with the smallest ones that can be procured, 
not filling it nearer than one foot from the surface. Before 
filling in the earth, it is well to put in a few pine shavings over 
the stones. Then fill in the earth as before directed with a 
common plow. 
3 d. I dug them as before and put in poles, with branches on 
top, to within one foot of the surface, and filled in as before. 
Your obedient servant, 
Green Bay, February 15, 1860. 
J. W. Cotton. 
