of the soil. A
chisel at one end, and point at the other, is found best in most cases.

A _Drain-gauge_ is usually mentioned in a list of draining tools. It is
used when ditches are designed for stone or other material than tiles,
and where the width is important. In tile-draining the width is entirely
immaterial. If opened by the rod, it is only important that they be of
proper depth and inclination, with the bottom wide enough for the tile.

[Illustration: Fig. 86.--DRAIN-GAUGE.]

The above figure shows the usual form of the drain-gauge. Below, we give
from Morton, drawings, and a description of Elkington's augers for
boring in the bottoms of ditches.

"The cut annexed represents the auger employed by Elkington, where
_a b_ and _c_ are different forms of the tool; _d_, a portion of
the shaft: _e_, with the wedges, _h h_, the cross handle; and _f_
and _g_ additional pieces for grasping the shaft, and so enabling
more than one person to work at it." The auger-hole ought to be a
little at one side of the drain, as in Fig. 3, at page 35, so that
the water may not rise at right angles to the flow of water in it,
and obstruct its current.

[Illustration: Fig. 87.--ELKINGTON'S DRAINING AUGER.]

[Illustration:

_a._ The plug, or point under ground, to which the string of pipes is
attached.
_bb._ The coulter from the point up through the beam, regulated by
wheel and screw midway.
_c._ The beam connecting the two pairs of wheels.
_e._ Drain opened by hand where pipes enter the ground.
_a to e._ Pipes under ground.
_e to f._ Pipes above ground.
_g._ Windlass or capstan, worked by horses.
_h._ Wire rope attached to plow, and wound round the windlass.
_i._ Pulley round which the rope runs to keep the plow in the line of
the ditch.]

DRAINING-PLOWS AND DITCH-DIGGERS.

The man who can invent and construct a machine that shall be capable of
cutting four-foot ditches for pipe-drains, with facility, will deserve
well of his country.

It is not essential that the drain be cut to its full depth at one
operation. If worked by oxen or horses, it may go several times over the
work, taking out a few inches at each time. If moved by a capstan, or
other slowly-operating power, it must work more thoroughly, so as not to
consume too much time.

With a lever, such as is used in Willis's Stump Puller, sufficient powe