Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1851-06-06
Agricultural.
Draining.

the Cultivator for May Professor Norton of Yale
College, thus replies to certain questions put to him
concerning various practical difficulties In laying
down drains:
l. The form of tile now preferred by the best for
eign authorities is the pipe, simple cylinder, cut
in lengths, and laid to join end to end. This
form can be made cheaper than any other being all
in one piece for the reason it can be trans
ported at smaller cost and is less liable to break
age by handling. The common objection the
part of those who have never seen these tiles at
work. is that water will not find its way into such
close-connected tube / might reason upon this SUBJ
ject at length but cannot now spare the space and
will simply all doubters that the water does
in some way, get in and that they cannot: even by
any process of packing stiff clay around the tiles
manage to exclude it, This has been proved over
and over again in practice, and is no longer point
for argument.
2. frequent subject of inquiry is, the nature of
the tools proper for cutting the ditch requir
ed for tiles. One great saving in their is, this
reduced width of the drain 1t is customary to run
one two deep burrows with heavy pillow along
the line of the drain, thus partially throwing out
from eight to ten inches of the surface. The loose
earth is then cleared away by a common spade and
the next ten or twelve inches taken out by spade
of the same shape but narrower. Another spade
still six seven inches wide at the top but not
more than two three at the bottom and quite long
takes out the lowest portion of the EARTH leaving
just about space for the tiles to lie, and for mans
foot to rest. peculiar scoopshaped hoe is frequent
ly, by cutting out small inequalities and removing
loose EARTH which cannot so conveniently be cleared
away by spade. In coarse, hard gravel or where
large stones abound such perfectly formed ditch
as have described, cannot well be made. In these
the cut must be more less irregular and in
hard soils must be much wider than is absolutely
necessary to receive the tile.
3. When the ditch is completed, the tiles care
fully laid the bottom end to end, being ia
ken that no wide vacancies occur and that each
smooth SOIL it is quite possible to cut the bottom
accurately to the size of the tile employed that the
pieces can be laid and held in their places by the
sides of the Itch In the ajority of cases, how
ever, this cannot be DONE and it is best to wedge
them in as compactly as possible by small stones
placed at proper intervals along their sides If this
precaution be not taken, they liable to be dis
turbed when the earth is thrown in to fill up. The
end of single tile thrust inch out of its place,
would probably the soppage of long line, so
that this point must be carefully attended to. Many
practical drainers recommend laying little piece
of turf, grass side down. a bunch Of straw or
shavings, each joint in order to prevent earth
from sitting in This, of course is a safeguard, but
in ordinary circumstances it is unnecessary ex-
penditure of labor If the soil thrown back has be-
come entirely dry and powdery. enough may posi-
bly, sift in to do some mischief but if it, at least
the first few shovels full be in ordinary state of
moisture such result need be apprehended pro-
vided, always, that the joints well made and the
line firmly secured in its place point which is
often neglected, is the proper packing of the earth
in filling, This should always be done with care so
as to avoid that washing of mud into the pipes,
which would be likely to if the soil above them
were left loose and porous.
f. If any curves made in the drain, they should
be of gradual character. 1t would be better to
blast a large rock. than to make an
abrupt curve in long drain. 1t is easy to that
the tiles would not join closely together on sharp
Ily curved line, and if cut to t the danger of
stoppage would be greatly increased, owing to their
greater liability to get out of place Such curves
too, retard very seriously the flow of the current
and for this the drain is less likely to clear
itself of many small obstacles which may obtain
trance. Where the fall is gentle this consideration
becomes of especial consequence. 1t was said by
Mr.. Smith, of Danston, that tile drains might be
made to discharge water where the fall but one
inch in mile. This, obviously: could only be done
by the exercise of some cheering skill in levelling
&C. Where the fall is one foot in a mile the work
is not difficult although then, it must be very
nicely done, and the channel very even The great
est difficulty gentle fall, is found in gravelly
and stony soils it requires patience to ght
en- and smooth the bottom of ditch in such stua-
ton.
5. Some persons have supposed that machinery is
used abroad for laying the tiles. This have never
SEEM and am inclined to think that there is some
mistake in the matter for | cannot see that any ad
vantage would result from the employment of ma
chinery in such work. A good, careful man, when
the ditch has been well cleaned out and levelled
can lay the tiles and secure them in their places
with great facility. Where the fall is inconsdera
ble slight inequalities in the bed of the ditch, and
consequent bends of the tiles do not seem to be in
furious On the sides of hills, have seen them lad
quite carelessly precautions only being used to keep
the ends, where the tiles met, in close contact.
6. That, as general rule. the drains should run
straight down the slope, and in parallel lines is now
considered fact beyond all question. Such drains
discharge the water better than Others and dry the
ground more completely. At the foot of the slope
they discharge into main cross DRAIN made of large
tiles, or, in some cases, of flag stones. Where the
slope is very long, it is recommended to cross
drain about half way from the top This is to pre-
vent the liability to choke, which exists in very long
drains of small diameter.
fcient for the small drains where they have not to
run more than two hundred feet for greater distan
ces, two inch interior diameter would be prefera
BILE. Farmers among us, who commence draining
with tiles, apt to spend more money than is ne
cessary, by purchasing larger sizes, under the i'm
preston that it is not safe to the smaller ones
If, however, any person will calculate how much
water may be discharged in tweDty-four hours by a
pipe of one inch BORE it will be perceived that but
few such pipes constantly running to the utmost
of their capacity, would make quite brook The
three and four inch sizes commonly used, are in or
binary cases. never taxed to than half of their
capacity.
| 8. It'll apprehended by some farmers that the
tiles would become choked, if laid in that mix
ture of sand and clay which almost runs when satu-
rated with water. | have never any precau-
tions employed in such cases, and do not believe
taneousy dries that part of the wet soil with which
| 10 hot