Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1858-03-10
WHY DRAIN YOUR LAND?

Will it not make the land too dry Ill sum-
mcr? No idea is more common among farmers
than that drainage induces drouth. The great
difficulty with them is, to get moisture enough
in our hot, dry Summers. 1t seems to them Il
logical conclusion that if you take water out ol
land, it must, of course, be drier, III dry time,
than it would he if left i'll lis natural state.
But this idea is not well founded. In the
matter of drainage, the Scripture idea OF "g;T-
ing without inpovcri>hng" is literally fulfilled:
Drainage improves the mechanical condltlon OF
the soil for furnishing water to plants, ana
greatly enlarges the pasture ground OF tue ioolS'
Put an under-drain, three OF four lcet uecP,
through piece of wet. springy land and the
whole soil, for rods each side Of the drain, be-
comes more loose and Giable. The air is ad-
mittcd down into the soil to the point to which
the stagnant water recedcS. The air always
carrier moisture with it, and the cooler surfaces
of the particles of soil with which it comes IN
contact, compel it to deposit the moisture IN
the driest time in Summer deep-dralned soil
will give moisture cnuogh to the roots that
grow in it.
A deep drained soil too, is warm enough for
planting much earlier in Spring than in its
natural state Crops may be put in better sea-
son, and oftentimes two crops may be taken
instead of one. The roots of plants can avail
themselves of all the richness of the subsoil, Us
well as of the surface. The grasses and root
crops, grains and fruits grow more luNuriantly
and give better results. Drainage, we are glad
to know, is attracting attention among our best
cultivators. It's general introduction will form
new era in our husbandry.-N. Y. Times.
VINE CuLTuRE IS THE UNITED STATES
Considerable doubt seems to exist III certain
quarters as to the success of the experiments
now making in various parts Of the country III
the manufacture of wine from native grapes
The following extract from the News published
in Vevay, Indiana which was settled by elni-
grants from the Swiss village Of the same name
who were probably the first to introduce the
grape culture in the West, states some Of the
causes of its failure:
"We have always looked upon it as q settled
fact that any attempt to render general the
culture of the vine would result in ruin TO the
party attempting it. Our seasons are too varia'
ble--o,lc winter too culd-thc next too open
and warm-onc summer is too dry AMI too hot
another is too wet. The truth is that lane
in the Ohio river valley is worth more money
per acre to raise grass and wheat, or corn, than
it is to raise grapes. We regard it Us settled
that any man who enters into the culture OF
the vine, without capital like that Of Mr..
Longworth of Cincinnati. will be ruined i'll ten
years. We are sure that the results OF tho
chemical analysis will show that all the money
Mr.. l.. has ever made out Of the vine culture
has been done by adulterating the juice of the
grape and making a little 60 good way. II
support of our idea, we would refer to the ex'
percnce of tue vine was commenced, where al
an carly day large amounts of money were OK
pended in the preparation Of the ground, ano
planting grape vines. Now, there is not a lar
lncr who has any vines who takes pains to dt
more than raise grapes enough for his family tc
eat, and to make enough to have drink or two
in the lot weather. Indeed We may say tlla
in the vicinity of Vevay, where the vine grow
ing was first attempted in America, it has beer
abandoned and men are raising hay, wheat and
corn"