The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1871-12-14
For tie Anderson lntellige"csr.
Land Drainage.
arHE PRACTICE OF pRAINAeE."


Land Drainage
sarHr PRACTICE OF DRAINAGE"
sThe efficacy of draining will depend, to q
preat extent, upon the manner in which the
work is done. In many situations it is not an
easy matter to decide how this can be done
most effsctually and at the least expense; and
it is point that should not be lost sight OF by
those who wish to- derive-the, greatest benefit at
the least expense. With reference to- ttas, 1t
will be we'll to consult an engineer or some
work ON. the subject The best work which
enters into the theory Of laying main and
smaller drains, and the details of the entire
practice of draining, is by James Donald, or1g,
mslly published in London, and republlshed
in this country by G. NJ. Saxton, of New York.
seThe first point necessary to be attended to
is to procure an outfall to carry off the water
from, the drains at any season, and then to con-
sIder how the main drains can be located so as
to receive the water from the smaller ones, and
thus render the drainage perfect. "A little care
lessness or ignorance here, often occasions
much unnecessary EXPENSE and frequently an
entire failure to derive any advantage from the
drains
"It is a point upon which all authorities
agree, that drains should be covered. Open
drains are subject to variety of objections,
which every farmer is familiar with-such as
occupying too much land, their liability to be-
come choked, and their carrying off only the
surface water. Drains partially filled with
small stones, and brush drains are also liable
to become choked, and are not sufficiently per-
manent to answer the great purposes of drain
age. Where it is necessary, from the quantity
of water to be conveyed away, that the main
drains should be large, they may be advanta-
geously built of stone. The following figures
represent modes of constructing these; but in
most cases tile of large calibre will be found
amply sufficient to discharge all the water"
AS you probably have not the engravings, L
omit the figures, and next give you short chap
Ter on distance of drains.
DISTANCE OF DRAINS.
When the main drain has been completed,
the smaller drains must be laid at distances
VARYING with the nature of the soil. Professor
Norton remarks that, with drains at this depth
1.-the plants could then send their roots down,
and find a soil free from hurtful substances.
The roots of ordinary crops often go down, 8
Sect when there is nothing unwholesome to pre-
vent their descent" He also says, that soil of
that depth is not easily exhausted; that ma
nures cannot sink beyond the reach of plants i;
that deep blowing and subsoiling can be prac-
ticed without the fear of disturbing the top of
the drains.
DR.. Mcfarland says, that in climate like
ours, feet is the least depth which will place
them below the disturbing influence of frost !;
an agency which is, without question, the most
hostile of any to effective drainage in our lati-
tude. The same author remarks that, on
clayey meadows, where drainage must be ef-
fec.ed, if at all, into brook with shallow
bed, and a very few inches of draining depth is
oh that can be obtained, there is no alternative
but to construct your drain with thin cover
ing, and fill it over the whole surface with an
artificial soil at your leisure"
Mr. Donald, after an elaborate and convinc-
ing array of arguments and facts on this sub
iect draws these conclusions: He would in the
most tenacious description ofsubsoil, if situated
IN arainy district, adopt depth of not-less
than thirty inches, not more than three feet,
and distance not exceeding IA feet. The
drains to be filed to within eighteen inches of
the surface with porous earth, or some other
suitable material which will allow water to
sink down. In subsoils more open, the depth
might be made three feet, and the distance
eighteen or twenty; and as the subsoil be-
comes more porous, the depth might still be
increased, to three and half, four and five
feet, and the distance to twenty-four, thirty,
forty or even eighty feet. He insists very
ssrenuously on the importance of filling the
drains, in heavy soils, with some porous ma
terials."
The subjects of Cutting Drains, and Tiles for
Draining will be given in my next S.
= Why are books your best friends Be-
cause you can shut them up without offending
them.
L.