Weekly Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1853-1861, 1855-10-25
A ID Id R h = =
Of Prof. ]. ]. Mapes at the Indiana
State Fair 1856

The Professor announced, after some prelim-
mary remarks, that he would speak on the sub
ject of the importance of Drainage and Sub
soiling" The earth was originally made of
rock, but frost and heat and other influences had
caused it to crumble at the surface, thus Great.
ing the soil that covers the earth. This process,
instituted by nature, must be continued BY man
to preserve or create fertility in the soils.
| claim that the same principles made use OF
By Nature. in the original formation of soils y
the debris of rocks, should be ayailed of for the
continued communication Of the particles OF
soils; for We may view every pebble stone and
grain Of sand, as requiring the same operation
of Natures laws to cause it to awe up the In
organic constituents OF plants, peut up Within
itself. as did the original rock from which it
came.
We also claim that the crops distinctly de-
pend upon the quantity Of surface of pa ticles
presented for mospheric influences and So
conditioned as TO be readily permested by roots
in search OF their constituents 1t is we'll known
that some pebble soils. which in practice are
barren. have the same composition rs the finely
DIVIDED soils of the Miami alley, and which
last are of most fertile character IL is evident
therefore, that the mechanical division Of the
soil, and its presentation to the continuance of
the action Of Natures laws, Is Question Of de-
gree, ss applied 10 its capability of furnishing
the pabulum for crops; aud. therefore. the deep
est cultivation, aud the greatest amount OF at
mosphere. with proper degree Of humidity
7 which can be brought IN contact with tho sur
face of tho e. 9tesl number of PARTICLES, is thai
winch must prove he most prof able. And il
is mere question of cost, as to the greatest
depth TO which these conditions may be furnish
ed to the soil.
The use of under drains. then, is not merely
to rid the soil of excess Of wa'er; for its tenn
perature will depend in part upon the quantity
of air which shall pass throughit. Under-draiu'
therefore. useful 70 the soil. by enabling al
10 Circulate between It's PARTICLES; aud IL Is fol
this reason that uader-draned SOILS, so arranged
hatevery alternate drain shall be opened II bott
ends TO the atmo -phere. will present the anona
ly Of alternate good aud comparatively indifer
ent crops.
/ would lay down, then. the following self
evident propositions
/ |. The removal Of excess OF water by under
] draining. permits the free access of air.
! 2. The chemical changes necessary to liberat'
the inorganic Constituents pent up il the partl
I cles of soil, go on more rapidly.
3. Those portions of the soil known as alum
ina aud carbon, receive larger amounts Of am
monia and carbonic acid from rains, devs aDC
atmosphere, thas in soils not so prepared.
4. Roots will permeate such soils TO create
( distances. aud hence Come in contact with lar
ger amounts of such constituents are requir
ed for their food, than if the soil was not SO pre-
pared.
5. The temperature Of the soil is materially
elevated by un'ler- draining and sub soil pillow
ing, thus giving longer season, aud rendering
the soil capable Of earlier plowing.
6. The carbonaceous portions OF the soils be
come increased by the decay of greater amour
of roots.
Z. Less manure is required to fertilizo soils 81
prepared.
{. thoroughly prepared soils never suEe
/ from drouth.
3. 4 less amount OF seed will produce max
imum crop
10 Sub.soiled meadows never run ont.
IL, Deeply disintegrated soils become derke
( in color.
10 A large class of weeds are destroyed by
thorough deepening of the soil, including al
those which frequently occur in sour and we
soils.
10. Under.drained and sub-soiled lands d
not compact after blowing. from rains, to the ex
tent that Is noticeable with ordinary plowin;
only.
Ia The increased amount Of crops conse
I quent upon such preparation, will enable ID.
farmer to paw ten per cent. per annum, or more
upon the cost Of the drained, from the in
creased ratio of crops, beyond the expenses o
Z Aii'iA HANNdNbOus
Is. Soils so prepared will improve more rap
idly than any others, even beyond the improve
ment of the first few years, which goes TO REIN
burse the original expense, and thus, in perpe
tuity. increase the value OF the land more thar
the whole cost of the under draining
10. The net profit Of twenty consecutiv,
years, by understanding, is double-the excess
crops leaving no portion of the expenses TO bea
upon them, other than in their harvest. FROM in
creased quantity.
The FIRsr PRoFosIrIoS-Tbe r,rnovsl o
the excess OF water by under draining permits
the free excess Of air, is self-cvident; for Will
the space between the particles is occupied b,
water, even the heavier portions of the atmos
phere-such as carbonic acid-held in il, can
not enter the soil. but after its removal. the at
rnosphere not only is depositing it's heavier por
tIons 10 the soil, but the current Of air whicl
must be continually passing through under
drains II leaking through the tile. and thus ria
ing up through the soil; for If both ends be opel
the current u AIR through the drain is at time
sufficient 10 blow out candle at the more ele
waited end, and thus a change of atmosphere be
tween the particles must be continually takin,
place.
SECOND The chemical changes necessary Z
liberale the inorganic constituents pent up il
the particles Of soil, 20 on more rapidly.
1t IS evident first, that by the presence Of al
rnosphere, aud proper degree Of humidity
! roots aud other organic matters in the soil, vii
the more rapidly undergo decomposition. Thi
t has evidence in the fact that every fence po-
decays mos rapidly at ils earth.eollar, or whrr
the moisture OF tie soil aud the armo phere, b
heir combined efforts; may cause its cay :
And thus We often find q post rotted of at III
surface Of the soil, while its lower ED IS re
NAMED comparatively sound. These condition
exist in sllpars Of properly under drained sol