Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1880-03-05
Farm Drainage.

Among other articles OF practical
Importance to farmers interested in land
drainage, in the Drainage Journal for
January, is the prize essay on Drain
age" based on actual experience, by
S. j. Woolley, Hilliard, o. Touching
the vexed question of the distance be-
tween drains, Mr.. billiards experience
substantiates that of others, viz, the
distance must be determined by the
nature of the soil, the depth of the tile
and the amount of fall. A loose porous
soil will permit water to reach the
drains for long distance, while tough
compact clay is almost impervious to
made much closer. As to the depth of
drains, the writer has found four feet
sufficient at distance of ten rods apart
in q black, loose soil; but if the land is
hard-pan or a stiff clay, TO drain it
thoroughly the distance apart should be
from four to six rods only.
The outlet ought always to be suffi-
cient, and it is much better. to secure a
good outlet at the start, especially if
the land is flat and there is but little
fall. Mr.. Hilliard advises in all cases
to have good outlet, so that the water
will fall from six to twelve inches when
it leaves the tile. He believes, where
ever cutoff is made, that although it
may cost little more to dig the drain.
tile is saved, Il greater fall is gained,
the water is carried off quicker and the
land better drained. However, when
the ridges are too high to dig through,
laterals must be used. Laterals, or
side drains as they enter the main
drains shouli be made to enter at an
acute angle pointing down stream. Mr..
Hilliard begins at the lower end and
lays tile as the ditch is dug; stands on
the tile in laying them, and turns them
until the joints it; then broken pieces
of tile are laid ,ver the Joints with a
few inches of ely to keep loose soil
from washing atthe Joints. The last
tile at the lower md should be twice as
long as the other, with holes through
the end, not ovel an inch apart and
wires across theseso as to keep all ami
mails out of the dnin. There ought to
be stone wall bilt across over the
mouth of the tile Train, laid up with
sand or cement, 81 as to prevent musk
rats from digging up the tile drain.
One eight-inch tie will carry off as
much water, in MI billiards opinion
as an open ditch for feet wide and two
feet deep, and is sufficient for an Quiet
for fifty acres. It's advised that che
tile should not be ontinued of the same
size all the way. Whenever q lateral
comes in a smalle tile will do from
that point and soon. The tile at the
end which has hobs in it should be
size larger than tb others, as the wire
will impede the fow of water some
what.
The authority in question believes
there is no level Ike water by which to
irade drains. Ppe-tile which is clrcu-
Ir has many advantages, among them
he possibility o being laid true on the
bttom. Horseshoe tiles are not recon-
rended. Solii rather than porous tile
ae preferred, being stronger and not
lible to burst or crumble.
When open bitches are resorted to
N. Hilliard urges that they be made
astraight as possible and as deep as
ny be, with sides having a slope of a
ftt and half to each foot of depth.
ON bitches do not drain the land as
ft or as we'll as do tile drains.
'ther points OF general interest pre-
seed in this essay are: Tile drains
web empty into the main should have
all of at least six inches; the avoid
aH of many laterals and the intrust-
irof making tile drains to hired help.
Aact presented and not generally
kwn is that if swampy piece of
wdland is suddenly drained most of
told timber will die; the oaks and
hories will go first. The change is
fiji noticed in the tops of the trees.
Hever, the young timber soon ac.
CANDIDATES itself to the change, and
AIR time grows more thriftily than
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