Thomas County cat., 1886-10-28
f,,ii sL -gJlfgE.
BEGINNING A DRAIN.
a Few Important Points to Re Observed
80 - in Order to Succeed Wela. ~ y b

BEGINNING A DRAIN.
a Few Important Points to tBe Observed
80 - >, in Order to Succeed Weal. q y II
1 Secure good outlet for the water
to flow off freely ao5 ,3l.5sg5 ..,. ,a s''',i' ~
2 Lay the main drains from three
to four feet deep-the latter depth is
better than the less. but we can't nj.
ways get the outlet to begin. so deep.
If the fall is sufficient, we can save it.
| and soon have the necessary depth.
3. We should use size of tile large
enough to remove the surplus water SC
as to have the surface ready for the
plow in twenty-four hours after rain.
fall have generally determined the
sizes of tile about AS follows: 1 look
over the land and estimate about how
many acres of the surface will run the
water of rainfall to the point where I
am going to make my outlet If the
estimate is that the water Of ten acres
is to 90 through my outlet, | take hall
| the number of acres as the size ip
| inches for the inside diameter of my
| tile, which would be tive-inch tile al
| the outlet, and smaller sizes in proper.
| tiona the line of tile advances, de.
pending upon how the water is re-
ceived. But if the fall is as much as an
inch to the rod, and the work well
done. then l would use four-ipch tile
at the outlet, and third of the wayup
ble drain drop off to three's, and near
the head of the drain use two's if
could get them. But we must make
! allowance for imperfect work, and it is
well TO have the tile large enough.
! There are more mistakes from the use
| Of tile too small than of tile too large.
4. In laying out the line of.the drain
| I make it as straight as can to secure
the most direct flow of the water.
Then l stretch a line of two or three
rods in length at the side Of haintend-
| Ell ditch, and begin the work with
| sixteen-inch ditching spade at the out
let and work back. going tire spades
depth. throwing the dirt on one side.
| The. width of the ditch at the top.
should not ordinarily be more than ten
| inches, growing narrower as we 90
| down. I use an adjustable scoop, to
| remove the loose dirt that fails to stick
to the -ditching spade. 1work back
the length of the line the, first spade,
then 60 forE ard and commence anoth.s
er spade of depth, and carry that back
/ the length of the line, and then the last
! spade work down deep enough to
make the grade. leveling the bottom
with my adjustable scoop. - Do 500 :
3. The leveling of the bottom to re-
ceive the tile is the important part of
the work. If there is water in the bot
tom of the ditch, / make, the bottom,
so uniform in the fall that the water
will flow regularly all the length COM
plcted. The ditch at the bottom
/ should be Just wide enough to receive
the size of tile to be laid, then the tile
will be supported by the side and not
easily moved when the first dirt is
thrown on. M .sFf
In this way work out the drain a
lines length at the time until / have
gone over sufficient space to make it
necessary to lay the tile, unless there
is quicksand. when L lay the tile as ]
60. ....
6. In laying the tile, commence at
the outlet; lay the first joints of hard.
burnt tile so they will not be injured
by the frost. lay a few cobble stones
! as large as my head around the mouth OF
the tile, to hold it firmly and protect it
from the tramping of stock. As soon
| as get two or three joints laid stand
on them and lay the next joint. placing
the tile as closely end to end as can,
and as perfectly in line as possible, to
have the waterway inside free from
shoulders. also having the grade regu-
lar. When have advanced five or six
! feet, have a long-handled shovel Cox
the adjustable scoop will do) and fill in
some clay on the tile, pressing it down
; firmly with my foot, watching carefully
that the tile are not displaced. Hav-
F, ing covered the tile in this way, l fill
the balance of the ditch with plow OF
scraper.
When the days work is done and
the ditch is not finished. / put in a
board at the upper end to prevent the
dirt washing into the drain during the
night from any accumulation of water.
In the way named l so on with the
, work until lay as much as l can for
| the present. then secure the upper
ends and drive stake, so if l should
want to ran the drain further 1 will
know where TO commence. And |
generally do want to 60 further.-J.
b. Morona, IN Drainage and Farm Jour
nal. . ss..r.
SPREADING OF MANURE. |