Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1869-02-23
For the Spectator.
Tile Drainage. No / f.s
!. e STAUNToN, Feb. 2lst 1869.

MESSRs. EDITORS III has been said Ey a
Savan Of other days, that He is the truest
patriot Who can show how two blades of wheat
may be raised where only one. has grown be
fore. Now we may be satisfied that this will
be regarded by our Valley friends as a self
leyldent truth whichit only remains for us to
prove, and thus weido it. Let the intelligent
Farmer examine the map Of his estate, study
It's levels streams and relative positions Then
let him set aside such portions of it known as
wet or cold clay soil which have always been
doubtful and have sometimes entirely disap-
pointed him by returning no profit for the la
Dor expended on them. Upon this, let him try
the new system of tile drainage and we do not
hesitate to say the result will far exceed his
most sanguine expectations by giving results
fourfold, and, in some cases, ten fold what, he
has ever reaped before. ''1 a+ ''
Now it certainly follows that if he can raise
on so acres Of land 1900 bushels Of wheat
wnere he has previously raised 400, and be al
most independent Of the seasons, he will have
the product of "a bushels per acre to devote to
the further Improvement of his farm. Now
this is no extravagant speculation, as proof by
figures can he furnished for every statement
that we made First, beginning in England
where results still more extraordinary have been
achieved, it has now been tried. with great sue
cess in this country, and we purpose giving
such detail of the SYSTEM from week to week.
as will enable any farmer, assisted occasionally
by the Engineer, to test It's wonder-worklng
power, lsa taas
TILE DRAINAGE, NO. 2 . d.
lst The whole range of lands, graves and
light loans that allow water to pass freely
through them provided the sub~soiI is Of The
same nature require no drainage. This may
be ascertained by sinking ditch or pit four
feet deep excluding the surface water, and if
this collects water at its bottom after rain it
needs draining. .fba 3a" 81
IF ploughed field shows over a part of It's
surface constant appearance OF dampness and
is much longer drying after rain. it needs
draining. If the rain water stands for some
time on the surface or collects in the furrow>
while ploughing, or if the soil in dry weather
cracks and the corn curls it needs draining.
Poor crops are often caused by too great
moisture during the season OF early growth. -
This and the effect of even severe droughts
may be relieved by draining tolh 35l45h
Rain water is every drop of it freighted with
fertilizing matter obtained from the air Ii
deposits this in passing through to the drains
and comes out pure. Spring water must be
carefully carried off as its virtues have already
been expended, and ooze water soaking out
from adjoining lands is subject to the same OBJ
jections.
By undertaking you keep the pores open
and the soil damp which is the best possible
condition for the growth of plant Without
it. both become satuIa ed with every rain and,
having no means of escape, except by evapora
tion it becomes stagnant and leaves the land in
state which can only be described as water
logged, but when drained the soil draws up
water from below and renders the Farmer al
most independent in drought.
P SIN giving the best systems of dran-
age we shall draw literally from the best works
on the subject viz Warney, Osborne. Parkes,
&C., which have been tested by our own expe
rienc. in England &c fe1r e ~.