The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1857-10-13

| cohtdinn bouie W tue hofs AuPoflaht cic-
ments Of plant-food---as carbonlc acid and
ammonia. We know too, that the soil
has the power of absorbing these substan-
ces, and this explains, in part at least, why
irrigated lands grow richer. 1t is, there
fore reason in favor of irrigation, that all
the benefit derived from il is clear gain
nobody, nothing, is the worse for it--thc
result is obtained through an agent which
would otherwise have remained idle and
unproductive.
One word may be necessary in regard
to land suitable fpr irrigation. The remark
is sometimes made. that such and such
land does not need irrigation, "because the
land is wet enough now." The land is,
perhaps too wet, and in this state could
not be much benefited by irrigation. The
soil and subsol may abou I'D in water which
is stagnant, or so nearly so that plants de-
rive no benefit from il, and IL may even
be the means of poisoning ths soil by
causing deposit of noxiour substances
as compounds of iron, and various acids.-
Drain this soil, so that water viii readily
pass lhrough II, Hnd ;--;eatiop --;ii f~aA..aA
excellent effects. 1t must be remembered
that il is only portion of the constituents
of water that plants can feed on, and that
when they have taken this portion, the re-
mainder, unless it is removed, obstructs
the economy of the plant by surrounding
and clogging its feeding organs, so that it
is unable 10 take in congenial food, and
finally deranges its functions and produces
disease All these difficulties are obvated
at once by proper drainage--this permits
the water to pass through tho soil with
such degree of motion, that while the
plant is enabled TO draw from it its NJ pro-
pirate food, the uuwholesome substances
in the soil are carried away.
The remarks just made in reference to
drainage rather incidental, than designed
as an exposition Of the general sovautages
of that operation. 1t is proper to speak
somewhat more particularly on the subject
in this connection. If drainage cannos
strictly be considered means of preseTv-
ing the fertility of the soil, it is certainly
one of the most important means of de-
veloping fertility, and in this respect its
practice would remove serious defect of
agriculture. The present occasion will not
permit tho presentation Of details in regard
to the circumstances under which drainage
should he carried on, or minute descrip-
ton of the different modes of doing work
"a brief notice Of main principles is oil
that will be attempted.
1t is common impression that, as our
climate is dry one, drainage is comparn-
lively unnecessary here. This objection ia
made without due regard TO the effects of
drainage. 1t is fact abundantly proved
that some soils which suffer greatly from
drouth, are rendered by drainage less like
ly to be injured from this cause. Cayey
soils, which do not readily admit the pas
sage Of rriu-water through them, are run
into mortar in wet time, and in dry
time, are baked to that degree that the
selves. The eject of drainage in such ca
scs is to carry off the water or allow it to
sink so fast that it docs not pack the soil,
so that, instead of becoming consolidated,
it remains tolerably open and friable, in
which state it lot only holds more mois-
turc, but the plant is enabled to extend its
roots freely in search of it.
AS an example Of the great advantages
to be derived from draining tenacious soils,
] do not hesitate 10 refer to the farms of
Mr. John johnson, near Geneva, in the
State of New York, and those Of Mr..
Swan and Others in the same section.-
This land, like most of the undrained land
in the same ncighborhood, was formerly
much affected by drouth-the crops on it
perished by the extremes of the conditions
under which they were placed, being en-
bcdded in mud at one time, and IN baked
clay at another. Now they have at all
times friablc loan. The yield of wheat
on this land has been Increased more than
hundred per cent. by drainage alone,
averaging upwards of thirty bushels to the
acre for several years past. Other crops
have increased in the same ratio.
Some of the obvious indications Of the
necessity of drainage, may be enumerated
as follows:
]. 1t is required wherever the soil is Of
so tenacious a character that the surface is
puddled by rain, or baked by drouth, or
wherever winter grain or grass is killed by
being hove out; or
2. Wherever what is called hard-pan "a
stratum of earth) comes within two feet of
the surface; or
g. Whenever aquatic or sub-aquatic
plants gtow--these always denoting the
presence Of stagnant water in the soil or
subsoil.
Undor the head Of defects of agriculture,
another class of subjects deserves notice.
They may, perhaps, be apily characterized
as hindrdnces to improvement. Among
those may be mentioned utraisms, or ox-
treme and exaggerated statements. In re-
gard to drainage, for instance of the adj
vantages of which some remarks have just
been made-it has been asserted by editors
of papers and by authors Of agricultural
addresses, that there is no land in this
country worth cutivating, that docs not
need understanding. And in a book by
"Consulting griculturalist," purporting
to embrace the elements of Agriculture
it is asserted broadly, and without qualif
cation, that understanding entirely pre-
vents drouth." 1t is asserted in the same
connection, that this operation prevents
grasses from running out-a result which
it is alleged is produced, in part, by "pre-
venting the accumulation Of poisonous er-
crcDentitious matter"