was soon found that, even in the easiest digging, there was a
real economy in using, for the first 3 feet of the ditch, the common
spade, pick, and shovel,--finishing the bottoms with the narrow spade and
scoop hereafter described, and it is probable that the experience of that
work will be sustained by that of the country at large.

*Marking the Lines.*--To lay a drain directly under the position of its
stakes, would require that enough earth be left at each point to hold the
stake, and that the ditch be tunneled under it. This is expensive and
unnecessary. It is better to dig the ditches at one side of the lines of
stakes, far enough away for the earth to hold them firmly in their places,
but near enough to allow measurements to be taken from the grade pegs. If
the ditch be placed always to the right, or always to the left, of the
line, and at a uniform distance, the general plan will remain the same,
and the lines will be near enough to those marked on the map to be easily
found at any future time. In fact, if it be known that the line of tiles
is two feet to the right of the position indicated, it will only be
necessary, at any time, should it be desired to open an old drain, to
measure two feet to the right of the surveyed position to strike the line
at once.

In soils of ordinary tenacity, ditches 4 feet deep need not be more than
twenty (20) inches wide at the surface, and four (4) inches wide at the
bottom. This will allow, in each side, a slope of eight (8) inches, which
is sufficient except in very loose soils, and even these may be braced up,
if inclined to cave in. There are cases where the soil contains so much
running sand, and is so saturated with water, that no precautions will
avail to keep up the banks. Ditches in such ground will sometimes fall in,
until the excavation reaches a width of 8 or 10 feet. Such instances,
however, are very rare, and must be treated as the occasion suggests.

One of the garden lines should be set at a distance of about 6 inches from
the row of stakes, and the other at a further distance of 20 inches. If
the land is in grass, the position of these lines may be marked with a
spade, and they may be removed at once; but, if it is arable land, it will
be best to leave the lines in position until the ditch is excavated to a
sufficient depth to mark it clearly. Indeed, it will be well to at once
remove all of the sod and surface soil, say to a depth of 6 inches,
(throwing this on