anston. The
dimensions for minor drains, sewered with stones, were, usually,
three and a half feet deep, fifteen inches wide at top, and three
to four inches wide at bottom (distance apart being twenty-one
feet); and the overseer carried about with him a wooden gauge, of a
size to correspond, so that the workmen could see at a glance what
they had to do. These drains are reported to have given general
satisfaction; and they were cheaply made, as the stones were to be
had in great abundance in almost every field. On _new_ land,
trenching was sometimes carried on simultaneously with the
drainage; and it very often happened that the removal of the stones
thus brought to the surface, was very expensive; but they were
turned to profitable account in sewering drains and building
substantial fences. In almost every case the drains were made in
the direction of the greatest inclination, or fall of the land; and
this is the practice followed throughout the country. Some
exceptions occur on _hill-sides_, where I have seen the drains laid
off at an acute angle with the line of inclination. It is not
necessary that I should explain the scientific reasons for draining
in the direction of the fall of the land, as that point has been
fully treated of, and well illustrated, in your article already
referred to. I shall now pass on to the Queries.

[Illustration: Thorough Drainage BY HENRY F. FRENCH. EXETER N.H.]

_Depth of drains, and distance apart._ There is still a great
diversity of opinion on these points, and particularly in reference
to the drainage of stiff clay soils; some of the most intelligent
and practical farmers in this country hold to the opinion that, on
such soils, the maximum depth should not exceed three feet, and the
distance apart sixteen to twenty feet. On clay loams, having a
subsoil more or less free, the general practice is, to make the
drains three and a half to four feet deep, and at twenty-one to
thirty feet apart. On lighter soils, having a free subsoil, four
feet deep and forty feet apart are the usual limitations. This farm
may be taken as a fair average of the land in Ireland, as a test
for drainage; the soil is a deep clay loam; the subsoil a compact
mixture of strong clay and calcareous gravel, almost free from
stones. Thirt