Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1884-10-31
FARM GARDEN AND HOUSEHOLD.
Farm Drainage.

Farm Drainage.
Under drains are always to be preferred
to open bitches, provided the drains are
large enough to convey all the surplus
water that will naturally collect In them.
Open bitches are always in the way of
cultivation and the harvesting of crops,
while there is constant call for labor in
keeping them clean. In soft land the
sides of bitches may cave in and require
cleaning out every year. Under-drains,
properly built, may remain perfect for
an indefinite period. What material to
use in constructing under-drains is an
important question. Many writers have
contended that tiles only are fit to be
used, while others believe that small
stones may often be used for this pur-
pose with advantage. In some localities
we believe stones will be found useful
and profitable. Many farmers have sur
plus stones that they seem to have no
other use for. Wet spots are sometimes
helped by having the surface raised TO a
desirable level. In such cases it often
happens that portion of the filling may
as well be of stones as of more valua-
BILE material. In making under drains
for conveying running streams, it is
often advisable to lay the stones in
the form of bridge with abut-
ments and covers, buo where the
amount of water is very small
the stones will sometimes afford suffi-
GENTLY open course when placed in with
out regard to regular water course.
Water is constantly running through the
earth under our feet. in natural channels
formed of sand or coarse gravel. When
making stone drains it should be remem-
bered that the great danger lies in the
fine soil from above or at the sides of the
bitches. If this falls in and fills up the
spaces between the stones the drains may
be ruined. To prevent this, care should
be taken to cover the stones with some
material that will remain in place. In
verified turfs. old hay or straw, shavings
from wood planingmiils, leaves from the
forest and small brush are all useful for
covering the stones before hauling in the
soil. Tramping the filing hard is a good
practice, also filling the ditch above the
common level to prevent the first rain
from washing the loose earth into the
stones below.
Most beginners fail by making their
drains too shallow. If the filling be
stone, there should be at least twenty
inches of earth above the stones, and
two feet would be still better. The
wider the bitches the deeper the cover
ing of earth should be, to prevent over
drying in time of drought. 1t should
be remembered that it is the bottom Of
the ditch that conveys the water. A
filling of two feet of stones is no better
than filling of one foot, so long as the
spaces at the bottom are free from OBJ
struction. The water which runs in
under-drains comes in mainly from the
bottom. The soil directly over the
drains may be made as impervious as
possible without injuring their drainage
capacity.
In digging drains it is usually better
to begin at the lower end and work up
hill, so that the water may flow away
below, but the filling should be begun
at the upper end, else heavy shower or
storm, occurring before the work is com
pleted, may wash so much soil into the
drains as to entirely spoil them 1t may
save a second handling of small stones
to have drain constantly open for re-
ceiving any surplus, as they are picked
up from the fields, but unless the sides
of the bitches are very firm it is unsafe
to leave them any great length of time,
especially in winter or when the frost is
likely to tear them to pieces.
In many localities the greatest need OF
improvement in farm operations is in the
direction of drainage. Thorough drain
age would warm the land, increase the
length of the season, in some years
double the crop, and frequently give all
the profit to be derived from cultiva-
ton. Thorough drainage of wet land
will ensure full crop every year.-Nea0
England Farmer.