y's labor to 3 rods in length. The
excavated earth of such a drain measures not quite 3 cubic yards,
(exactly, 2.85.)" In a subsequent work, in a sandy soil, two men opened,
_laid_, and _refilled_ 14 rods in one day;--the mean width being 12
inches.(21)

"In the same season, the same men opened, _laid_, and _filled_ 70 rods of
4-foot drain of the same mean width of 12 inches, in the worst kind of
clay soil, where the pick was constantly used. It cost 35 days' labor to
complete the job, being 50 cents _per_ rod for the labor alone." Or, under
the foregoing calculation of $1.50 per day, 75 cents per rod. These
estimates, in common with nearly all that are published, are for the
entire work of digging, grading, tile-laying, and refilling. Deducting the
time required for the other work, the result will be about as above
estimated; for the rough excavation, 3 1/2-rods to the day's work,
costing, at $1.50 per day, 43 cents to the rod.

_Grading_ is the removal of 2 or 3 inches in depth, and about 4 inches in
width, of the soil at the bottom of the ditch. It is chiefly done with the
finishing scoop, which, (being made of two thin plates, one of iron and
one of steel, welded together, the iron wearing away and leaving the sharp
steel edge always prominent,) will work in a very hard clay without the
aid of the pick. Three men,--the one in the ditch being a skillful workman,
and the others helping him when not sighting the rods,--will grade about
100 rods per day, making the cost about 6 cents per rod. Until they
acquire the skill to work thus rapidly, they should not be urged beyond
what they can readily do in the best manner, as this operation, (which is
the preparing of the foundation for the tiles,) is probably the most
important of the whole work of draining.

_Tiles and Tile-Laying._--After allowing for breakage, it will take about
16 tiles and 16 collars to lay a rod in length of drain. The cost of these
will, of course, be very much affected by the considerations of the
nearness of the tile-kiln and the cost of transportation. They should, in
no ordinary case, cost, delivered on the ground, more than $8 per thousand
for 1-1/4-inch tiles, and $4 per thousand for the collars, making a total
of $12 for both, equal to about 19 cents per rod. The laying of the tiles,
may be set down at 2 cents per rod,--based on a skilled man laying 100 rods
daily, and receiving $2 per day.

_Covering and filling_ will probably cost 10 cent