from the greater intervening space. Surface-drains or water furrows are very 
wasteful, as the valuable ingredients in the soil are carried off. We have 
instances of low-lying localities on tidal rivers and ereeks where surface-drains 
can hardly be avoided, the land not being sufficiently elevated to adinit of 
sub-drains, although, a good many years ago, some low-lying land on a sugar 
plantation on the Logan was sub-drained, and, to get a fail for the minor 
drains, the leaders or main drains had flood-gates put on to block the rising 
tides ; those drains worked well, considering that they were blocked twice every 
twenty-four hours. It sometimes happens that, owing to the subsoil, you 
cannot avoid deep draining. Most of you have, no doubt, noticed land 
that required draining lying in plongh-furrow or harrowed after 
a spell of wet weather; in the process of drying it presented a clouded | 
appearance, patches remaining dark, others quickly drying and lighter 
in shade, showing sudden changes in the nature of the subsoil. 
I saw a considerable stretch of that class of land drained in Scotland. In 
testing the ground to fix the depth of the drains, we found the subsoil in the 
wet patches consisted of a stiffish, muddy-looking mass, intermixed with stones 
resembling chips of freestone of various sizes; the intervening patches or 
bands consisted of a sandy clay. It was thought, before testing the ground, 
that 3 fect would be a suitable depth, but it was found that in the stony, 
muddy-looking patches it would be difficult to bed the pipes. The wet ground 
was then tested for bottom, which was got at 43 and 5 feet. It was, therefore, 
decided to put in the drains 5 feet deep and 1 chain apart; luckily, no 
leaders were required—each drain had an outlet into a burn or creek. ‘hat 
land had been drained before during a previous tenancy. The material used in 
the old drains was flagstones, which could be had in abundance on the sea- 
coast close by; they were rough-dressed and set into the drains in the form of 
an inverted V, the apex upwards. Now, unless well fitted and packed, you can 
easily understand that extra pressure on one side would cause the stones to 
shift, slip, or fall flat and choke the drain. That is what happened in this case; 
hence the necessity for being careful in such expensive work, in the setting 
and covering of the pipes, stones, or timber, as the case may be—so that the 
drains may be as permanentas possible. Pipes make the most efficient drains; 
but should long carriage make them too expensive, and should timber be 
plentiful and the subsoil clay or other firm substance, a good economical drain 
can be made of hardwood slabs, of a uniform width, and in from 3 to & feet 
lengths; lay one edge of the slab on the side of the drain, and lean the othez 
edge on the opposite side, thus giving a triangular space for the water. Such 
drains last, and work well. It would not, however, be adyisable to follow down 
steep slopes with this class of drain, as the action of the water would be 
injurious. Stones if convenient may be, and often are, used with good effect— 
the large stones on the bottom, the smaller on top. Subsoiling after draining 
is an additional protection against drought. A Scotch swing-plough makes a 
good subsoiler; take off the mould-board, and, if necessary to ease the resist-— 
ance, reduce the wing of the share. Cattle-yard and stable manures or com- 
mercial fertilisers are useless; in fact, sometimes injurious to land that requires 
draining. In establishing an orchard, vegetable, or flower garden, disappoint- 
ment may be avoided by an examination of the subsoil. A practical man can tell 
at a glance what is required to ensure success. Gardens have been laid out 
at considerable cost, and the one thing essential left out—viz., underground 
drainage. Some years ago I was told by a gentleman, who now owns one of 
the best gardens about Brisbane, that he had spent a lot of money on his 
garden, and was bitterly disappointed until he dropped on the right man in 
the person of a Scotch gardener, who told him the land required thorough 
draining. The gardener was allowed a free hand, and the result is now 
evident. I need hardly state that it costs Jess to put in the drains 
when you are preparing the land for fruit, &c., than either before or 
after. I have trenched forest land for fruit, and put in drains very 
a 
