The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1869-07-09
For the Jefersonian.
TO FARMERS.

!. There are few subjects of NOR
interest to the farmers, just no"
than that of land Drainage. And
vet, it is very difficult for many o
them to see its practicabillty- Tn
.lobstaeles to successful drainage ar
luppermost in their minds. and the
nave not the courage to begin Tn
expense, labor, level lands, and skep
ticism as to the benefit, combine t
deter many from the undertaking.
But, tile present wet season, NJ
doubt, will awaken theinquiry, ''HoV
are We to guard against the next?
Tne many corn-ields, that begin tC
look like meadows, give solemn
warning 20 their owners, that ''some
thing. must be done.S There arc
hundreds of acres OF corn in Han
cock county, that will be almost ;
failure this year, that with proper
drainsge, would have produced fifty
to seventy-live bushels per acre
The difference between the value oI
one full crop, and almost nothing
would have drained the land. Hence
lie would have pail The owners oI
certain fields, this year, to have
drained them. sillmo4aa1tE sIs ls5.
Open bitches are of great value,
hut will not answer the full purpose.
Under drains are the farmers'frienGs.
After all experiments that have been
tried, tile drains are found to be the
thing. But we are asked again and
again, how are tile drains Construct
ed !? How far apart? How deep
How does the water get'into them I
And how much will il cnst?' 5-l
We answer as to construction -
Generally two and half 10 three
feet deep will be right for this conn,
try. The width of the spade, or The
"drain SCOOP is sufficient; then the
tiles laid carefully and tue, with the
ends az close together As possible
the drains from two to fohr rods
apart. These particulars may be
varied somewhat, as the Judgment of
the farmer may decide. considering
the nature of the soil, and the
amount OF fall. This latter particu-
lar, is a question in many minds. =
Some seem TO think that the fail
should be sufficient to bring the
water through 'like a mill race. W
Not so. A 3 inch tile drain, will
work well with from four to six
inches, or even less fall, in forty
rods. "But how does The wafer get
into the tiles when they are laid so
deep. and yon pack the dirt afound
them? ~ Why. sir, il just obeys
natures law and goes in, seeking it's
level and a vacuum You are aware
that 1t YOU iill abarrel with water, If
there are any cracks, the water viii
leak ont. And if you press sn emp
ty, lcally1 barrel into water, it will
rleak,' in. So the empty Ties, With
the little crack between each two,
allows the water to leak in,s and you
cannot keep it, oGt. w a;er seeks q
lower level, and very soon. rmiRnte
water-courses arc established toward
the tiles; the stream starts, and in
stead OF stagnant water on the sur
face, waiting the slow process o:
evaporation, it perculates the soil,
leaving the fertilzing material as II
goes, allowing the SIMS heat To
warm and pulverize the particles OF
earth, ready for plant food. Tile
Trained land may, be worked mnch
earlier in the season, and sooner af-
ter a rain any time, tElan the same
quality OF land undrained. Would
II weeks time have been OF any val
ue to you, this year, Mr. Farmer?
Or that fall the frost came about ten
lays before your corn was readg for
10? Now, as to the expense Il
know of farmer in Northwestern
Ohio, who is tile-drainin9 his land
at an expense of $50 per acre, and
ne says 1t pays. But, you need not
pxpend that much, and vet derive
IncalcRlable beneGt. Take ten acre
lot. Put your drains foar rods
apart, and three feet deep. 1t will
take $500 one foot tiles. The =
inch Tile wll cost you about SIS per
You will pay then about
800 for tiles. Now caiculste the
value of your labor, and You have il.
And it is not such job To ditch and
sy the tile as many imagine Then
the increased products, and the COM
Tort in eultivating your mellow field
will compensate you in two Oi. three
years at NEST Better borrow TIE
money at Il per cent. or sell one.
field to drain another, than TO sit and
wait for the sun TO dry your land
ready for the next shower. or dnbblei
in the mud, and get half q crop.
In conclusions, i say, The great
want of Hancock county IS tile
draining. Farmers, will glss under
take il? a few have and vita good
results. Let it become = general
thing. The writer Of this has no
axe to grind in the matter do
not get paid for The paper on which
write, and do not want pay But
| do most earnestly desire to see
prosperity among farmers, for they
ire the foundation ot our industrial
'sbric. "o- 'n' $500 f-'
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