The ranch. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1902-1914, 1905-12-01
THE FIELD
Building the Drainage System.
Oh. L. Blanchard.)

The next step in the proceedings is to
dig the bitches, and here is where the
labor and expense seriously begin. Our
advice is not to try to dig all the
bitches at once, but to make start
without unnecessary delay-dig a
ditch, or part of one, at least. We
are all of us more or less controlled
by the condition of our pocket book.
But the farmer who has a good cedar
tree on his farm and can WELD the ak
and shovel is independent of the peck
ct book so far as bitches are con-
cerned, and when he realizes that
there is no work that he can do on
his farm that will bring him better or
surer returns, and cause many more
and better blades of grass to grow
where only one blade grew before, he
will enter upon the work with that
faith and courage which always elimi-
mates the drudgery feature from the
enterprise.
When an underdrain is once well put
in it becomes both a valuable and
permanent improvement. When the
line of the ditch has been located
drive a short stake about every five
rods along one side. Now, stretch
good line from stake to stake and
in cases where the ground is too wet,
or for any reason team and ploW
cannot be used, prOceed-unleSS drain
tile and to be used-with long handle,
round point steel shovel, and dig the
ditch two feet wide and "a to SO inches
deep if possible, when the conditions
will SO warrant. In case the ditch is
to remain open slope the walls so that
the bottom of the ditch will be from
6 to II inches wide. But when it is
to be an underdrain dig so that the
walls will be about perpendicular.
Since it requires a fall of about two
inches to the one hundred feet for wa
ter to flow freely, such fall at least,
should constitute the grade of the bot
tom of the ditch Where conditions
will permit, the work can be greatly
expedited and the final cost much
lessened by the use of team and
pillow to loosen the earth. When prac-
ticable the ditch should be covered as
soon as the digging is finished.
When wood is to be used and cedar
is available that is the best. However
about fifteen years ago the writer Tor
this purpose used the butt logs OF hr
trees that were quite pitchy and hap
pened to split well. This wood is as
sound today as when put In the dltcn.
Rails about twelve feet in length ana
about six inches square (Where the
ground is soft, but in clay or gravely
ground that is firm, four or i've lncnes
square is large enough, should nrSt
be laid along either side OF the dltcn
SO they will rest firmly their entlre
length, beginning at the upper END OF
ditch when possible. Covers or punch
con are now to be provided, which
should be not less than twenty inches
long, and from that to tWenty1our
inches long, and not less than two
inches thick, the width being, lmma-
terial. This covering should be lald
lengthwise across the ditch over the
rails. being careful to lay them closely
and firmly. While it is not always
necessary we like to place over this
covering from four to six inches OF
straw. Now the drain is ready for the
dirt to be returned. Be careful to re-
turn all the dirt taken out OF the dltch
possible, piling it up we'll over the
drain. This is important since In time
it will by packing, become level with
the adjoining soil.
When properly put in underdralns
should not be neglected altogether
They are too costly and valuable. The
farmer should have his drains so LAID
out that he will have no difficulty IN
locating them at any time, their en-
tire length. 1t is a good plan to pro-
vide peep holes at places, especially
where laterals empty into a main, any
Instructions interfering with the free
flow of the water ought at once to be
removed, and nothing allowed to inter
fere with the bitches performing their
function.
Calculating from a cash basis, we
find that bitches and underdrains vary
CI1nh I.ia ton DSll-