Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1854-01-13

! special attention. To the fact that all wet labas
! should be drained. Profit aud health both re-
! qure that such soils should be relieved oi their
excess Of water. In the first place, no lands
with soil or subsoi, continually saturated with
water, can produce more than half the crop thar
! il will be competent to yield when Drained ana
il is equally obvious, that the craps themselves
will be improved in quality by the operaton.-
Equally obvious isit, that by draining lands,
the cause of seve raj diseases will be removed
Upon the advantages of draining we will copy
the views e Professor james +. w. Johns
ton, which appear to us TO be Enlightened and
just.
'OF DRAINING AND IT'S EFFECTS
He says-
Among the merely mechanical methods by
which those changes 10 be produced upon the
SOIL that are fit for the better growth of valua-
bic crops, draining is now allowed to hold the
first ace That il is an important step III hea-
w clay lands, and that il must be the first step
in all cases wber water abounds in the surface
soil will be readily conceded; but that 1t can be
beneficial also in situations where the soils are
of sandy nature-where the subsoil is light and
porous-or where the inclination of the field ap-
pears sufficient to allow ready escape to the
water, does not appear SO evident, and Is not un-
frequently, therefore, n matter of considerable
doubt and difficulty. 1t may be useful, then,
briefly to state the several effects which IN differ
emit localities likely to follow an efficient
/. 1t carries off all stagnant water and gives
ready escape to the excess of what falls in rains.
=. 1t arrests the ascent of water from beneath,
whether by capillary attraction, or by the force
of springs, and thus not only preserves the sur
face soil from undue moisture, but also frees the
subsoil from the lingering presence OF those nox-
ious substances which i'll UNFRAMED land Sc fire.
quently lodge in it and impair the growth of
deep-rooted plants.
3. 1t allows the water of the rains, instead of
merely running over, and often injuriously wash
ing the surface, to make its way easily through
the soil. And thus, while filtering through not
only does the rain water impart TO the soil those
! substances useful to yegetation which it always
contains in greater or less abundance, but 1t
washes out of the upper soil, and when the drains
/ are deep enough out of the subsoil also, such
/ noxious substances naturally collect, and may
have been long accommodating there, rendering it
msound and hurful to the roots. The latter is
/ one of those benefits which gradually follow the
! draining of land. When once Thoroughly effected
! it constitutes most important permanent i'm
/ provement, and one which can be fully produced
/ by no other available means. 1t will be perma-
nent, however, only long the drains are
| kept in good condition. The same openness of
| the soil which enables the rains to wash out
those soluble noxious substances, which have
| been long collecting, permits them to carry oft,
also, such as are gradually formed and thus to
keep il in a sound aud healthy state; but let this
openness be or less impaired by neglect
of the drainage, and the original state OF the land
will again gradually return,
4. This constant descent of water through the
soil causes Il similar constant descent of fresh
air through its pores from the surface to the
depth of the drains. When the rain falls it en-
tiers the soil, and more or less completely dspla-
| ces the mir which is contained within its pores
This air either descen Is into the drains rises
into the atmosphere. When the rain ceases the
water, as it sinks again leaves the pores otthe
upper soil open, and fresh air consequently fol
lows 1t is, in fact, sucked in after the water,
the latter gradually passes down to the drains.
Thus, where good drainage exists, not only is
the land refreshed by every shower that falls
not only does II dorivc from tho rains those inn
portant substances which occasionally. at least,
are brought down by them from the atmosphere,
and which are in great measure lost where the
waters must flow the surface, but it is sup
piled also with enewed accessions of fresh air,
which experience has shown to be valuable in
promoting the healthy growth ofall our cultva-
ted crops.
IS. But other consequences of great practical
Importance follow from these immediate effects.
When thus readily freed from the constant pres
ence of water, the soil gradually becomes drier,
sweeter, looser, and more frable. The hard
Jumps of the stiff clay lands more or less disap-
pear. They crumbe more freely, offer less re-
sistance to the plough, and are in consequence
more easily and economically worked. These
are practical benefits, equivalent to change of
soil, which only the farmer of stubborn clays can
adequately appreciate.
q. With the permanent state of moisture,
the GOODNESS of many soils disappears The
backwardness of the crops in spring, and the
lateness of the harvests in autumn, less fire.
quenty complained of-for the drainage in many
localities produces effects which are equiudlent
TO a change ofclimdte. In consequence of the
drainage which has taken place in the Parish of
Peterhead, in Aberdeenshire, during the last 20
years, the crops arrive at maturity ten four
teen days sooner than they formerly did; and the
same is true to a still greater extent in many 9TH
er localities.
2. On stiff clay lands, well adapted for wheat
wet weather i'll autumn not unirequently retards
the sowing of winter eorn--in undrained lands,
often completely prevents it--compelling the
farmer to change his system of cropping and to
SOW other grain, if the weather permit him,
when the spring comes round. An efficient
drainage carries off the water rapidly as to
bring the land into workable state soon after
the rain has ceasedanv thus, to a certain extent,
it rescues the farmer from the tickle dominion of
the uncertain seasons To the skilful and IN
telhgent farmer, who applies every available
means to the successful prosecution of his art,
the promise even in our age and country is sure,
THAT seed time and harvest shall never fail"
80 But on lands of every kind this removal
of the supertluous water is productive of another
practical benefit. In its consequences it is E.
qairaient 10 an actual deepening Of soil"
TO BE CONTINUED.
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