Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1856-08-22
AarirultnraI lara0ing.
From the New England Farmer.
DRAINING.

]
outset, and be sure that you know whence
the water comes that makes the land too
wet. Does It rain down upon the hills,
and run into the swamp, and so food 1t
for want Of an outlet? or does some
stream back up upon it from below, raised
by dam, which some factory or a grist
mill has right to keep up? or does 1t
flow into the land from springs which
burst up around the edges, or perhaps in
the midst of ii, at the bottom? If the
water runs in on the surface, the obvious
mode of drying the swamp is to make
open bitches that shall cut it off before
it reaches the low land, or if this cannot
be done, to collect ii at the outside, in
open bitches, and conduct it off through
the lot, as speedily as possible. If you
have back-water from a dam to contend
with, perhaps your best course is to sell
out and move off, for in many local in
vestigations which 1 have witnessed, !
have never been able TO see any limit to
the effect of back-water.
1t not only rises to the height of the
dam, but is drawn by capillary attraction,
as well as piled up by the retardation Of
the stream, so that nothing but actual ex-
pertinent can determine where the effect
of the dam ceases. Besides that, the eff
feet of back-water, which of course pro-
duces stagnant water in the ground, is far
worse than that of running water. In
nine cases out Of ten, however, meadows
in this part of the country are rendered
too wet by spring water, which is rain
water falling on higher land and passing
down into the earth till it finds a water
bearing stratum, frequently clay or rock
but sometimes Of compact gravel, upon
which it runs until it comes out at the
surface, or oozes through the soil, render
ing it cold and barren. I have at this
time drain open on land which has been
moved eight years, and which l have
plowed since haying, to be laid down with
grass seed and turnips, which gives g
good Illustration of the operation of these
cold springs. noticed a wet place after
blowing, and had hole dug with a spade
TO ascertain the cause. This is a spot OIL
a hillside, perhaps fifteen feet above tn
level of the stream which runs alon,
twenty rods below. First came about
foot of dark soil, then two or three inch
es Of white compact sand, then about 81,
inches Of red gravel, and under this dow
to the centre, for aught know, soil,
clay. The water filed the hole in a
hour or two, to within foot of the SUI
face Of the ground, and this in a DIR
time. Water cannot pass through cla,
but runs on the top of it, tn the grounC
Just as on the surface, only slower, an
breaking out thus on the hill-sides, an
very often at the edge Of swamp, drown
all vegetation, without showing itself {
all on the top of the soil. Usually waite
flows into a swamp only from one sid'
The substratum Of clay, Or other impel
vious substance, frequently has a dip {
inclination much more regular than Ii
visible surface, and carries the water
one direction, as for instance on my farr
from north 10 south. To intercept al
cut Off this water, cut ditch across Il
course Of it, deep enough to cut into Il
stratum on which the water runs, fe
inches, otherwise the water will run u
der the bottom of the ditch, and cor
out as before.
For want of stones, have made U
Of brush for underdrains, covering it vi
turf These answer a good purpose
eight or ten years. l am now usi
strips Of pine boards, which ] happen
have on hand, sawed six inches wide.
Two of these l nail together, and lay t
edges upon old boards in the bottom
the drain, forming triangular openir
On this, l place swamp hay, bushes
tan, and cover up. In wet land | &
bushes that were laid eight years a.
quite sound, so that l think pine boal
will last many years. This seems
shiftless way Of doing the business,
my farm affords no stones, and we ha
not arrived at the dignity of drain ii
yet, and on the whole we may say of
as woman said of her husband who v
not pattern Of good morals, . He is
great OF husband, but he is a dread
sight better than none"
1t open drains are used, cut the boa
at an angle of forty-five degrees, so t
they will not fall in. IF underdrains
used, cut them nearly perpendicular,
as narrow as is convenient.
From the New England Far1ne
KILLING OUT WILD GRAS