nel pipes recommended for the prevention of intrusion of quicksand. (cf. Jahresb., 1854, I, 69.)

Dr. Motherby-Areusberg (East Prussia), reports that, in draining in quicksand he had left none of the means recommended untried, but found none always reliable, and that he now gives preference to the following plain method, the principle of which consists in as speedy a performance of the successive operations as possible, in order to prevent the movement of the quicksand. The contemplated ditch is first thrown out deep enough to allow only one more cut to the stratum of quicksand; into the walls of the yet shallow ditch leveling pegs are driven sideways, and to them is fastened a cord, by which the depth can at any instant be correctly ascertained-this being the most important item in the rapid succession of operation. The workmen now begin one after the other, and so close to each other that the necessary free movement only is allowed to each. The second workman commences only after the first one has made his first cuts; the rest proceed in the same way, so that they stand in their work entirely by steps, and the last must constantly be prepared with his hook, ready to receive the tiles and place them accurately and quickly, so that they may be immediately covered by a workman stepping over the ditch, with one foot of earth. In order to be perfectly sure as to the work being everywhere done right, stoppages are made from time to time, which, if arrested, furnish the best proof whether the work has been perfectly made, or where the mistake is which as yet can easily be remedied. In order to make these stoppages, the drain ditch is closed from distance to distance by a small loam dam; the pipe itself projecting from this dam is closed by a cork; the water is then permitted to gather in order to observe

whether, after removing the cork, a complete discharge of water takes place.

As to the intrusion of roots, Mr. B. de Latour states that a pipe drain, four feet below the surface, being choked up, he ordered it to be repaired; that a great number of thread-like beet roots, ten to twelve feet long, had penetrated and filled the largest pipes; that in another field carrots had caused the same accident; that potatoes had not done it, and he feared nothing from the roots of fruit trees and vineyards.

Mr. L. Giraud and Mr. Th. Galos, from the neighborhood of Bordeaux, state that pipe drains, in the vineyards of that district, are protected against the intrusion of roots, by surrounding the pipes with straw, after having covered the joints with short pipes or collars.

CONCLUSION.

WE have now discussed all the prominent principles involved in underdraining, and have given such practical directions for determining the construction of the drains, that, with a little experience, no one guided by them will be liable to commit serious errors.

It may be objected that we have not advocated any special system of underdraining—that we have not adopted Elkington's, Smith's of Deanston, Josiah Parkes', Pusey's, Wharncliffe's, Keythorpe's, Barrall's, Wauer's, Shoenermark's, Gropp's, Mollenkopf's, or any other special system; or that we have not introduced whole page engravings, exhibiting entire fields of underdrains, or introduced engravings representing Johnston's, Yeoman's, or some other farms as models. We have deemed it best to discuss simply the principles involved, and then let the reader apply the principles in practice as best suits his location and circumstances. We doubt very much whether twenty farms are drained precisely alike in any other respect than upon the general principles-the details necessarily differ in each according to soil, situation, finances, etc. We were induced to adopt this method when we learned the fact that, so far as crops are concerned, underdrains with the mole plows, where the nature of the soil would permit, produced the same effects that the system of frequent or thorough drains advocated by Gisborne and Parkes did. The advantage of tile drains over the mole plow consists in this, viz: tile drains can be made in all soils; are made

with greater regard to precision; are permanent; while the mole plow drains can be made in clay soil only; are, from their manner of construction, unavoidably subject to irregularities; and what is more than all, are merely temporary expedients. But the physical conditions of the soil are rendered the same; and the increased productiveness is the same, whether made by the mole plow or laid with tile.

With systems differing so greatly in their details as pipe tile and the mole plow, and yet producing the same results, and involving the same general principles, it appeared to us like unmitigated prejudice to be partial to the details of one system and exclude all others, especially when we are fully aware that innovations, changes, and differences of detail are introduced by almost every one who undertakes to drain any considerable amount.

We would address ourselves particularly to the young men of the West, and suggest to them that it would not only be well, but honorable and profitable, for them to qualify themselves to take charge of drainage works on farms; that is, to examine the grounds, determine the proper depth and position of drains, and advise as to the best method of making them. Judging from the tenor of many letters addressed to the writer in his official capacity, making inquiries respecting "drainage engineers," he is convinced that in a few years those who qualify themselves for the position will have much better cause for congratulation than those who enter the ranks of professional life. Drainage will soon become a new field of industry, which will demand more engineers than the railways have done― more "surveyors" than the western wildernesses. It is a field in which thousands and tens of thousands will find employment, and will go on increasing until the greater

portion of the whole North American continent will be underdrained.

Let young men of the present and "rising generation" turn aside from the overcrowded ranks of professional life-from the fascinations of the mercantile avocation, or the dazzling speculations of commercial enterprises-and become promoters of the productiveness of the soil.