s attain the desired object, with the
smallest expense. If the first drains are judiciously placed, and are
found insufficient, others may be laid between the first, until the
drainage is complete.

CHAPTER XXIV.

AMERICAN EXPERIMENTS IN DRAINAGE--DRAINAGE IN IRELAND.

Statement of B. F. Nourse, of Maine.--Statement of Shedd and Edson,
of Mass.--Statement of H. F. French, of New Hampshire.--Letter of
Wm. Boyle, Albert Model Farm, Glasnevin, Ireland.

It was part of the original plan of this work, to give a large number of
statements from American farmers of their success in drainage; but,
although the instances are abundant, want of space limits us to a few.
These are given with such diagrams as will not only make them
intelligible, but, it is hoped, will also furnish good examples of the
arrangement and modes of executing drains, and of laying them down upon
plans for future reference. The mode adopted by Shedd and Edson, of
indicating the size of the pipes used, by the number of dots in the
lines of drains, is original and convenient. It will be seen by close
attention, that a two-inch pipe is denoted by dots in pairs, a
three-inch pipe by dots in threes, and so on.

It is believed that Mr. Nourse's experiment is one of the most thorough
and successful works of drainage yet executed in America. His plan is
upon page 195.

STATEMENT OF B. F. NOURSE, ESQ.

GOODALES CORNER, ORRINGTON, ME.,
Sept. 1st, 1858.

MY DEAR SIR:--So much depends upon the preliminary surveys and
"levels" for conducting works of thorough-draining and irrigation
cheaply, yet to obtain the most beneficial results, that a
competent person, such as an engineer or practiced land-drainer,
should be employed to make them, if one can be obtained.
Unfortunately for me, when I began this operation, some years ago,
there were no such skilled persons in the country, or I could learn
of none professionally such, and was forced to do my own
engineering. Having thus practically acquired some knowledge of it,
I use and enjoy a Summer vacation from other pursuits, in the
prosecution of this; and this employment, for the last few weeks,
has delayed my answer to your inquiries. Nor could I sooner arrive
at the figures of cost, extent, &c., of this season's work.

This is expec