The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1855-11-28
AGRICULTURAL,
= From the Soil Of TIE South. >
Thorough Draining---Its Importance
to Southern Agriculture.

had never known better stands Of corn
and cotton. The explanation of this fact
may incu'cate n lesson in practical agri-
culture which we are slow to learn, but
which, when once appreciated and acted
upon, will prove Of incalculable benefit to
southern husbandry. We attribute the
excellency Of the stand of corn aud cot
ton, and the favorable growth of those
crops in The early part Of the spring, TO
the fact, that the last winter was the dri-
est which we have ever known. and that
consequently, the earth, which generally
at seed time is filed with water from win
ter rains which ordinarily fall SO heavily
IN our winters, was warm, and though
dry. yet moist enough to veSetate the
seed, and give them rapid growth from
the start. 1t is II fact which practical
men are beginning TO head, but which
seems yet almost unknown that one of
the chief obstacles IN the WAY ofsuccessful
cropping, even on our most favorably sit
uated fields, is the presence of an excess
of moisture in the sol. Most frequently,
the indications on the surface are sufficient
to point out those places where this en-
cess exists; but in many instances, this
difficulty occurs where casual examina-
tion of the surface discovers no evidence
OF the fact. Our best lands are those
which most commonly suffer from this
cause; those which lie level, and which
have frequently been enriched rom the
operation Of the very cause which rem
ders them unproductive-low places
where the water has been accustomed to
settle, carrying with it the vegetable and
saline substances which have been wash
ed from other parts Of the surface, where
they have been decomposed and incorpo-
rated with the soil, and are now IN cen
dition to be appropriated by growing
crops, possessing all the elements Of fer.
tiIity and yet being SO damp and cold
that seed depositsd in them. either do not
vegetate, or If they do, produce sickly or
unproductive crops.
How frequently is it the case, that the
planter is deceived in his estimate of the
yield Of field which contains his hes,
land and ought, he thinks, to make his
largest crops, The corn or cotton, how
ever, is spotted. In some places, the
growth is luxuriant, in others, where the
soil isjust as good, the crop looks small and
yellow. 1t is these wet spots which re-
duce the average Of the field, and disap-
point bis estimates; and they will contir-
ue to do so, until the difficulty is remoy-
ed by thorough draining. To recur to
the illustration with which we set out,
there are a great many such places which
this year are producing fine crops, and
heretofore have had scareIy half a stand
nPon them. The preceding dry winter
had drained them and thus removed the
only obstacle to their productiveness.-
We are throwing away a great deal Of
labor every year in attempting to make
crops upon such spots. No amount Of
manure, and no amount OF labor with the
plough and hoe, no matter how judicious-
ly expended, can make good crops on
such places. There is too much water
in the soil; and until it is relieved of that
difficulty is is folly TO expend manure or
labor upon them. Examine the. roots Of
the crop which feebly struggles for an en-
istence uron those wet places, and tire lit
tie fibrous rootets which shoots out in ey-
cry direction in search of food for the
plant, will be found to have rotted, and
cannot therefore perform their flee. .e
We cannot, Of course, afford such an
expensive system Of thorough drainage as
IS practised in Europe and some of the
densely populated districts OF onr own
country. Where land, for Instance, is
worth 800 per acre, its owner would be
justidable in going to an expen in re-
claiming it that would be altogether mad
missible in country where land is sold
for $40 per acre. 1t would be simply
folly for an agricultural journal 10 re-
commend system Of thorough drainage
to its readers, which woald ost more than
the land would be worth after il was re.
claimed while at tho same time, pre- ise-
ly the same system may be proftably f.
dopted 10 different section Of the coun
try. We do not, therefore recommend
thorough drainage, as that term would he
understood 10 England, for as question
of economy il would be folly to Undertake
here; but at tho same time we do re-.
commend Q system. Of drainage more
thorough than we practice In this country
and we recommend It because we believe
that il will pay we'll even on our cotton
plantations, which sell at $40 per acre.
The most casual observer Of our southern
plantations must be foTcibly impressed
with the inattention with which this sub.