The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1850-10-30
ZIG RICVLTUR.lL II.
49,,
Gkss.sR
From the Amsricon Farmer.

FROM fhe AmFTtCUH IH"t''
and Effects Of Drain.
ing Lands. .
The following item froa Fdlkner, Gill 'e' !
forth in bold relief the immense adpdnt0ges
resulting from draining vet lands: (,
"To lay mdnure upon ret soils, IS. indeed, I
10 t.row money aray but we're draining uni
versally effected, the whole Of the now com.
pata,iyely unproduciiye soils Of the country,
would to vast extent, be rendered capable
Of recplv,ng the benefit Of the numerous modes
Of fer,,.izinp il. It's returns GRE immediate,
as well as compensatiue; and 10 hesI'ase TO
drain the land, rs to hesitate to confer benefit
upon one's sell Of which strong proof has
been lately brough, forward n statement OF
the profit resulting from the drainage Of 467
acres, sud the employment oil the drain wafer
over SO sores Of land, ca the estate Of Lord
IIa,her,on, 10 Stafotdshire, oDordine clear
annual interest on the outlay Of fua thirty
sersn per cent"
In Illustrating the rroprie,y Of relieping ar
able lands of any cree" Of uaisr, professor
Gray, very fofcibIo remarks:
1.-The necessity and Importance OF draining
We, grounds. may be rendered eviden, BY the
| follow ing considerations
| l. An excess OF wafer or moisture prevents
the ploughing and pulverlling OF the soil until
late in the season, and when the attempt IS h.
nally made it can bat imperfecily succeed;
hence the msnures, moi Icing properly ,ncof.
pora,ed with The soil, are deprived OF their et,
/ fec, upon the soos. The crop is checked aud
is liable 10 be injured by early ftos's.
| 2. An excess Of moisture prevents the pro.
cess OF decay, or the decomposition OF the OF.
gsn,c matters in the soil, aud thus cot oil a
regular supply Of food. This effect is cxem
pifird in pea, swamps, where tho vegetable
matter, being p evcoted from decay by sa'er,
accumula'e IN large quantities, 10 the depth
often Of 90 feet, asd form peat.
3. Lands which have al excess OF water,
often become dry and compact IN seasons Of
drought. The roofs are thus prevented from
penetrating the sci, and from extending them.
selves freely IN ell directions, but, the Influence
of the air, and Of the dew, which are so i'm
oorlan, IN dry weather, are almost sholiy CT
cluded from them. Hence such soils, especi.
ally If they are stiff clay suffer as much from
drought as from excess OF moisture.
a. When The roots Of plants extend into 9
we, soil, the food is too much dluied, or II
no, prepared IN sufficIen! quantities to ensure
a beautiful and visorou. growth. Leaves auc
III formed shoots will sometimes be abuadaRl
instead Of fl,uers and fruit.
The fibrous portion o. the roots. or sPongeles
by means OF which, nourishmtn' 10 received
THIS effec, takes place when the water becomes
s,agnan, and putrescen,, as j, is lissc 10 be
come ~hen the land is level and the subsoi
re,en,ive. 10 others, the plan, ro,s Of al the
ground, especially il there Is light and heat.
G Anescess of water excludes the influence
of hea, aud air, two indisp n,able agents in
the growth Of plants.
Z. Experience shows however we'll n sol
may be constituted 10 is mineral ingredients
and however rich i. may BE- 10 humus or GENE
and salts, no cultivated crop will flourish we'll
unless the surface Of The soil aud the soil i.
self, s made dry during the growth Of the
crop, and when required to be worked by the
plough or hoe.
Hence the utility Of draining must be evi
dent to every farmer. For system Of drain.
ing, rightly conducted, will not only remedy
the evils above described, but will cave much
time and labor in the cultivation OF the crop
too weeks al least, will be gained by the get.
ting il and ripening Of It. TIE produc, uih
be one third greater, and one third Of The la.
Dor nred in The ttliing.
De Condolle regards the inflence of stag.
nant water about the neck Of plants, as oper.
s,'ng SIMPLY to exclude :he oxygen Of the air
but
Lindiey, more p'operly attributes the inju
~ to the lou temperature of the soil in Which
water 10 suffered to accumulate. II is because
Of the danger, says Lindi'y. Of allowing any
accumulation Of waller abou, the roofs Of plants
that drainage is so very important.
Professor Norton, in his new and able work
upon Scientific Agriculture" III treating Of
the sub;ec. Of the mechanical Improvement Of