Page:Willich, A. F. M. - The Domestic Encyclopædia (Vol. 2, 1802).djvu/183

Rh the spots inclosed ought not to contain more than five acres; but in such space it is requisite that several cross-cuts be made, which should be 4 feet broad at the top, and 3 feet deep. A whole year will be requisite to complete these drains; and, in the ensuing spring, it will be necessary to open, deepen, and clear them of the adventitious boggy matter; a work which should be occasionally renewed. The second year may be employed in extending the main trench; in taking in fresh inclosures by new lateral cuts; and in draining these by means of small transverse drains. Although this annual deepening and clearing of marshy grounds be attended with great labour and expence, yet the operation is thus progressively completed, and in succeeding years both trouble and costs will be gradually diminished, in proportion as the bog subsides.

As soon as the drains have rendered the marshes sufficiently firm for oxen to walk on them, the heaviest rollers that can be procured should be employed, to act by repeated pressure. Indeed, without a considerable degree of such pressure, during the first year, no bog can be effectually consolidated. An alternate draining and rolling, annually (the drains being still kept open), would, probably, contribute much to the destruction of weeds. Previous to rolling in the spring, it has been strongly recommended to sow every kind of grass-seeds, indiscriminately, such as ray-grass, hay-seed, clover, &c.

An instance of uncommon and successful industry occurs in the 18th vol. of the "Transactions of the Society for the Encouragement of Arts," &c. which in the year 1800 conferred a gold medal on, Esq. of Brownslade, in the county of Pembroke, for improving 274 acres of waste moor-lands, which were formerly a common, and so completely inundated as to be of no value whatever.

Before we conclude this subject, we think it necessary to give some account of stone drains, which are calculated for soils where the common methods of draining cannot be adopted. Such drains ought to be cut 10 or 12 inches wide, with perpendicular sides; and flat stones should be so placed, as to leave a water-course at the bottom, by setting two stones triangularly to meet at the points. Or, the bottom may be covered with a flat stone, and three others placed upright, and the water left to work itself a passage between them. In either case, the cavity of the drain ought to be filled nearly up to the top with loose stones: screened or washed gravel, where it is found in greater abundance, has been successfully substituted. Those pebbles, however, which are often found on the sea-shores, are well adapted for filling drains; as, being smooth, and generally round, the water flows through them more freely.

The principal drains ought to be 3 feet deep, and 18 inches in width; the bottom and top should be laid with flag-stones; the sides built up to a sufficient height with common stones; and the whole covered with sods of turf, but the grassy sides downwards: these again are to be overspread with earth, sufficient to admit the plough. The smaller drains are, in general, to be concluded at an acute angle into the main trenches.

Lastly, sod or earth-drains are usually dug two feet deep with a spade, when the soil is taken out by an instrument, or scoop, about