Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1854-01-27
AsnlutaraI.
UnderdrainIng.

Undcrdrainings
The one word most needed 10 be
understood by American Farmers, is
USDERDRArSIso. 1t carries of MI
stagnant water. 1t arrests the ascent
Of water from beneath. 1t allows the
water TO percolate or strain through
the soil instead Of running over it,
1t carries the nutribiye elements of
rain water into the soil for the use of
plants. 1t causes fresh air to circulate
through the soil. II makes the soil
sweeter, looser. moro friable, more
easily worked, more productive. II
hastens the maturity Of crops. II il
equal TO a change ofone or two degrees
Of climate. The removal of stagnant
water removes the coldness. Ii ena.
bic the farmer 10 seed two or three
weeks caller in the spring. Itis equal
TO deepening of the soil, all over the
field. 1t enables the farmer to use
manures to much greater advantage.
On wet soils, bones, wood ashes and
other artificial manures are almost
thrown away. Even lime exhibits but
one half it's fertilizing virtue where
water is allowed to stagnatein the soil.
Many of the failures of experimenters
to derive benefit from the use of arti-
fetal fertilizers may, then, be attribu-
ted to the presence of water in the soil.
IL makes the soil Of a field, like the
soilof a garden. This gives it a highly
absorbent power to attract moisture
from the atmosphere, a most valuable
property. Fitting the soil to receive
the air freely, is one important assis-
tance to the introduction of nutricient
matter. The more extensively the air
finds access, the more finely divided to
act as more delicate seive, the more
thoroughly, the more profitable is ma
ture employed TO work for man.
The act Of plowing and narrowing and
stirring the earth in the time fdrought,
is an act OF manuring. In the driest
we athcr the air is loaded, with mois-
ture. This moisture is carried by the
air in among the roots ofplants if the
soil be kept open to admit it. Then
the roots of plants in the soil are better
supplied with nourishment, il being
nearer to them on all sides within
reach, than it can be where the soil is
less fine; as in common tillage."
Tull said; "To demonstrate that
"dews moisten the land when fine. dir
ga hole in the hard, dry ground in the
"dryest weather, as deep as the plow
"oughtto 60, beat the earth very fine.
"and fill the whole Herewith; and az.
"ter few nights dews you viii find
"this earth become moist at the bottom.
"while the hard ground around will be
"dry. Till field in lands; make one
Gland very fine with frequent deep
'plowing; and let another be rough
from insufficient tillage alternately.
"then plow the whole field crosswise
Gin the driest weather, which has con.
"tinued long, and you will perceive.
from the color of the earth, that eyery
Zine land will be turned up moist, but
every rough land will be dry as DOW
"der from top to bottom. In the dri-
"cst weather, good hoeing procures
moisture TO rootsi though the ignor-
"ant and incurious, fancy il lets In
drought and are therefore afraid 10
'hoe their plants at such times" =
In one Of his arguments to his
brother farmers to deepen their soils
by every practicable means, 10 let air
into the roots of the crops, and TO give
every facility possible to the growth of
the roots Of plants, he expressly assures
them thereby plants derive benefits
which exclusively belong to the veget-
able world.
OF the subsoil plow, Prof Johnston
says, IL is On instrument uncaualcd nj
present, believe, for giving real
practical money value 60 stitf clayey
subsoil. yeteyen he. strong advocate
as he is for deep plowing and tho use
Of the subsoil plow, admits chat often.
times IL Is ofbut little use unless pre-
ceded by draining. "But though II
open cup" says be, "the soil ior n
time to a greater depth, the "subsoil
"plow will, in most eases. afford no
permanent cure for the deficiencies
"of the s3bsoil, j. waaidedty the drain
"Ggc."
When a soil, especially n rctentivc
oae, is underdrained. tho water rs Il
percolates through Il leaves innumcr-
able small pores: it becomes like
spongc--a reticulated mass Of fine
tubes. Not only does understanding
remove all excess Of water, and supply
Il when deficient. but IL oqualxes tho
temperature Of the soil. Besides the
beneficial mechanical effect ON the
soil, understanding has great chemical
action. The removal Of stagnant
water and the free admission Of air In
its stead. accelerates the disinlegration
of minerals as we'll as the dccomposi-
ton Of organic matter IN The soil, rem
dering them both available as food for
plants. The whole Of the increase IN
crops obtained from draining must be
considered clear profit. We believe
onethird increase TO bo a low estimate;
and as this one-third Of the entire pro-
duce OF the farm is clear profit, II will
pay high interest on the thirty dol
lars invested in undertaking. Any
farm which from It's location Is worth
$40 10 $1,000 per acre. II Il needs
draining. cannot fail 10 pay a handsom
interest for money judiciously laid out