The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-04-01

Chicago Tribune
One great desideratum in all drainage is the
outlet Be sure and have a good outlet first
Most all writers on drainage advocate the sys-
tenn of q main drain and laterals coming in on
both sides; this is good system and drains the
land perfectly, but the system that have al
ways thought practical IS to have as few aterals
as possible, but have all your drains far as
practicable run straight to the outlet or near
the outlet, and have very large tile for few
rods at the outlet. By this system a larger
amount of water can be taken off in a shorter
time at a less expense; while the water would be
running across the field in the laterals to the
main drain, by this system it would be at the
outlet, as the distance would be but little fur
ther and the fall by this system would be enough
greater to make up for the distance In the
drains. By this system it is certainly the
cheapest, as you dispense with a long string of
large tile, but great deal depends on the lay of
the land; if the land is rolling in some cases
only the lateral system can be used; but always
keep in your mind the one idea of getting the
water off as quickly as possible at the least.ex-
pense
1t is now admitted by all that tile drainage is
the best-paying investment that farmer can
have; therefore. do not slight your work to save
little money. Tile drains, if perfectly made,
will not only last few hundred years, but will
last for all time to come Round tile is the best,
and about the only kind used at present. 1t is
economy to make your tile drains just as they
should be in the first place, and save the expense
of making them over. 1t makes DO difference at
which end you commence to lay your tile.
have laid them both ways, but consider it the
best to commence at the outlet and lay the tile
as fast as the ditch is dug, covering the tile a
few inches with the clay from near the bottom
of the ditch, keeping the upper end covered as
you leave it. Any silt or debris that may be
washed in the tile will surely be washed out if
you have graded your drain properly, and this is
one of the most important points in making
drains-to have D perfect grade It is a very
good way to have your drains leveled by an en-
giDeer, but I would never lay tile in a drain
until it was leveled by water. I consider water
the best leveler that can be had in tile drain.
1t is very often the case that you have a large
stone to take out of the bottom of the drain. In
this case never fill the hole with clay, but with
stone and pebbles, and pound them in, and your
tile will not sink.
Persons that have not drained any, and are
not posted themselves on drainage, are almost
sure to commence wrong. In commencing they
think that they will only drain their wet lands
but after draining the swales it has paid so we'll
that they will drain the high lands if they need
it There is plenty of land that needs no drain
ine) but if your land is clay it certainly needs
draining and will pay to do it; therefore it is
best to take this into consideration when you
commence to drain.
The depth of drains should run from four to
six feet You have the use of your land as deep
as you drain and no deeper; il you drain it
twenty inches deep your crop roots will 60 no
deeper; if they are six feet deep your crop roots
will go that deep, for the that tile drains
do nearly as much good of dry as they do of
wet season. If land is drained deep the surplus
water runs Off, and the land becomes more
porous, and the air and frosIs get deep down,
and seem to raise the land up and make it
porous, so the plants send their rootlets
down deep and suck up sufficient moisture dur
ing severe drouth. In regard to the distance
that drains should be apart that depends upon
the depth OF your drains and the nature of your
lands.