The Yazoo Democrat., 1853-06-22


fact that excess Of moisture powerfully affects
the local climate.
l. Excess of moisture. even on lands not evi-
IDENTITY wet, is cause of fogs and damps.
2. Dampness serves as the medium of convey
ance for any decomposing matter that may be
enveloped, and adds to the injurious effects of
such matter IN the air--In other words, the ex-
cess Of moisture may be said to increase or ag-
gravate atmospheric impurty.
3. The evaporation of the surplus moisture
lowers temperature, produces chills. and creates
or aggravates the sudden and injurious changes
or fluctuations of temperature by which health
is impaired.
The following are the chief agricultural advan-
tages of land drainage to individual occupiers or
owners
Ist. BY removing that excess of moisture
which prevents the permeation of the soil by air
and obstructs the free assimilation of nourshing
matters by the plants.
81. By facilitating the absorption of manure
by The soil, and SO diminishing its loss by sur
face evaporation and by being washed away du-
ring heavy rains.
3D.. BY preventing the lowering Of the tenn
perature and the chilling of the vegetation, dim
lnishing the effect of solar warmth, not on the
surface merely, but at the depth occupied by the
roots of plants.
9TH. BY removing distractions to the free
working of The land arising from the surface be-
ing at certain times, from excess of moisture,
too soft 10 be worked upon and liable to be
poached by cattle
5th BY preventing injuries to cattle or other
stock corresponding TO the effects produced on
human beings by marsh miasma, chilIs and Goals,
including general low state of health, and in
extreme cases the rot or typhus.
9th. By diminishing damp at the foundations
of houses, cattle sheds, aad farm steadings,
which causes their decay and dilapidation, as
well as discomfort and disease to inmates and
cattle.
Objections, both sanitary and economical, lie
against the system of open ditch Drainage
These bitches give rise 10 an offensive and un-
wholesome evaporation, and are more expensive.
all things considered, than more efficient and
permanent drains would be. The plan proposed
as a substitute is pipe drainage with covered
bitches, the advantages OF which are testified 10,
by numerous competent witnesses. This plan,
as applied to road drainage, will offer important
facilities for private land drainage of every des-
cription.
Mere surface drainage by ridge and furrow,
besides leaving the land surcharged with moist
ure, carries away the fine particles of earth, and
with them the soluble manures and fertTlizing
matters which they contain The earth thus re-
moved clogs the main drains, and the dissolved
manures are lost.
Thorough drainage. on the contrary, does
away with ridges and furows, and the water
drains downward through the table into the un-
derground channels. The fine mould, if thus
left upon the surface, the soluble manures are
carried down into and absorbed by the soil and
retained for the Sustenance of vegetation. The
water, by the time it reaches the deep-laid pipes,
is thoroughly filtered and purified, and not liable
to leave deposites to obstruct them
AS to the depth and distance apart of the drains.
there seems TO be some difference of opinion
among eminent autortes. The rule must evi-
dently>vary with the nature and condition of the
soil. The principle, however, seems to be es-
tablishtd that the deeper drains need not be so
near each other as shallower ones. Mr. Parkes
gives the following table as showing the actual
and respective cost of three cases Of under drain
age calculated on the effects really produced--i.
e. on the masses of earth effectively relieved OF
their surplus water at an equal expense:
The table here, shows that bitches 2 feet deep
ought to be within "a feet of each other-3 feet
Deep 33a, and a feet deep so feet apart.-EDs.
DEM.
Mr.. Stephens lays it down as principle that
the drains should be so deep, at the least, as to
place them beyond the reach of subsoil plough
ing; twenty-six inches.
The following rules are given by DIR. Shier, one
of the ablest agricultural chemists Of Great Brit
ain:
lst. The drains ought invariably to run down
the steepest descent and parallel to each other
End. The distance at which the small drains
are placed apart depends on the nature and tex
ture of the soil, the depth at which the drains
are to put in, and whether it is surface water
alone they have to deliver.
3rd. The best materials for the construction oil
the waterway of the frequent drains are tubes,
tiles, and soles, water-worn pebbles from the sea
beach, harped gravel, or broken stones. a decl
ded preference should be given to tubes over tiles
and soles. They are cheaper, occupy less space
in the kiln as well as during transport, and are
much less liable to breakage they are easier laid
effect as complete drainage and are less liable tc
sitting or sediment, or indeed to accidents of any
kind.
One OF the important agricultural results o.
deep or thorough drainage is, that after series