408 On Mole Catching,&c.[June

exception, by ſaying,“ unleſs it ſhould be a very dry ſummer.” And why not drain in ſummer? oratleaft cart the materials at that ſeaſon? But there are other parts of the year in which land is frequently as dry as in ſummer; this ſpring, or the laft, for in- ſtance, all land, that is fit to be called by that name, has been dufficiently dry to cart upon. LI ſhould always prefer the ſummer ſeaſon for this operation; for, at that time, the ſoil is generally free fram ſurface-water; and in digging the drains you are then able to diſcover, with greater accuracy, at what depth, in what dire@ioh, and'in what quantity the ſpring water iflues forth. I have frequently ſeen, likewiſe, the hard materials intended for the formation of drains, carted upon the land during a ſevere froſt, to be in a fate of readineſs when a proper opportunity for cutting the land has offered: but this praQice cannot obtain reſ- pedAing chalk; for if chalk be once expoſed to the effes of froſt, it will be rendered totally unfit for the above uſe.‘There will, however, ſcarcely ever be wanting ways, means, and ſeaſons for the uſing of chalk in draining, to any perſon who all be ſo in- clined, and who has plenty of it at hand. It is not reaſonably to be expected, however, that any perſon will purchaſechalk, and cart ita conſiderable diſtance for this purpoſe. When neither chalk nor ſtones are eaſy to be obtained, then I think the method recom- mended by your correſpondent F. P. is an excellent ſubſtitute. I ſhould be happy to hear of any other methods of draining prac- tiſed either by the above correſpondents, or any improversof land. Fune 19th, 1802. I am yours, Wai

17/4992#5307 ee Le ON MOLE. CATCHING ec.

Te» the Editor of the Commercial and Agricultural Magazine.

S your Magazine for March contained a Method of de- ſtroying Moles, as pradiſed ſucceſsfully in France by Mr. Aurignac, which Mr. Dralet informs us, of all the means hi- therto employed for their extermination, was the eaſieſt and the ſureſt; it might, perhaps, appear very like preſumption in an Engliſhman to refuſe giving implicit belief to ſuch poſitive aſler- tions; yet in ſuch a ſituation do I fand; not but the public is equally obliged to you for procuring the tranſlation of the Treatiſe, as it gives us at leaſt a fair opportunity of endeavour- ing to ſhew our neighbours, that if we were not acquainted with the beſt and ſureſt way of deſtroying Moles, we are in the habits of oraGiſing a mode more ſimple and efficacious, with leſs trouble and expence. The one I allude to was, I believe, the invention of a common labourer in Glamorganſhire, who is at preſent alive, and who alone, by yearly agreement with the Gentlemen and Farmers, aGually deſtroys the Moles of one half of the county, and alſo of a great part of Brecknockſhire. It is very ſimple in conſtruction, and of courſe eaſily made; is compoſed entirely of oak, deal, or elm,(oak is the beſt) ind mmon nails attainable in every part of England; can be made