s to
the end of the drain, the workman walking backward as the work progresses.
By and by, when he comes to connect the lateral with the main, he may find
that a short piece of tile is needed to complete the length; this should
not be placed next to the tile of the main, where it is raised above the
bottom of the ditch, but two or three lengths back, leaving the connection
with the main to be made with a tile of full length. If the piece to be
inserted is only two or three inches long, it may be omitted, and the
space covered by using a whole 21/2-inch tile in place of the collar. In
turning corners or sharp curves, the end of the tile may be chipped off,
so as to be a little thinner on one side, which will allow it to be turned
at a greater angle in the collar.

If the drain turns a right angle, it will be better to dig out the bottom
of the ditch to a depth of about eight inches, and to set a 6-inch tile on
end in the hole, perforating its sides, so as to admit the ends of the
pipes at the proper level. This 6-inch tile, (which acts as a small
silt-basin,) should stand on a board or on a flat stone, and its top
should be covered with a stone or with a couple of bricks. Wood will last
almost forever below the level of the drain, where it will always be
saturated with water, but in the drier earth above the tile, it is much
more liable to decay.

[Illustration: Fig. 32 - PICK FOR DRESSING AND PREFORATING TILE.]

Fig. 32 - PICK FOR DRESSING AND PREFORATING TILE.

The trimming and perforating of the tile is done with a "tile-pick," (Fig.
32,) the hatchet end, tolerably sharp, being used for the trimming, and
the point, for making the holes. This is done by striking lightly around
the circumference of the hole until the center piece falls in, or can be
easily knocked in. If the hole is irregular, and does not fit the tile
nicely, the open space should be covered with bits of broken tile, to keep
the earth out.

As fast as the laterals are laid and inspected, they should be filled in
to the depth of at least a foot, to protect the tiles from being broken by
the falling of stones or lumps of earth from the top, and from being
displaced by water flowing in the ditch. Two or three feet of the lower
end may be left uncovered until the connection with the main is finished.

In the main drains, when the tiles are of the size with which collars are
used, the laying is done in the same manner. If it is necessary