The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1869-03-19
Home, Farm and Garden.
Drainage.

Persons who have had most expe
rience in draining land, affirm tha'
there is but little land that is nor
benefited by juJhcious draining. The
large amount OF capital that is yearly
employed in this branch of industry
shows conclusively the belief, both
in its utility and necessity, If the re-
suits, themselves, were not a suffi.
cient argument in its favor. Some OF
the most valuable bodies Of land in
the country were, only few years
ago, wholly worthless on account OF
their damp and mershy nature. BY
skillful draining they have become
the most productive. The benefit in
such instances was marked and I'm
mistakable. There are still immense
tracts of land, which, owing to their
wet and marshy nature, are unfit for
cultivation, and could be redeemed
from their worthless condition by
draining. Beside this, almost every
farmer had more or less land lying
idle, because at those times when II
should be plowed il is too wet for
cultivation. When it rains the water
stands on it, and much of the time
stock cannot coupon il, nor can a
wagon be driven over it. All such
land can be made fruitful, often the
most fruitful, by draining.
Draining is not accompanied with
the amount of labor or expense that
many persons who have had no ex-
perience believe The ditch is pre-
pared by ditching machine. or by
plowlng a deep furrow, and then
spading it six or eight inches wide,
and about three feet deep. Earthen
tiles are mostly used. They are
made about twenty inches long,
cylindrical, and have a bore two
inches in diameter. The first tiles
were made with a collar or shoulder
at the end, but this is no longer used.
The ends are made straight, and
when laid, face close up to each
other. The soil is then filled in
There is no need for a layer of gravel
or other loose substance next to the
tile, as they drain off the water better
by having the soil laid next to them.
The pipes are porous, and esch drain
will exhaust, or drain off from twen-
ty to thirty feet on each side of it.
Those who had most experience
in draining say that it deepeDs the
staple soil, and makes it more loose
and friable. The surplus water
which causes the formation of in
furious chemical compounds, always
found in pools OF stagnant water, is
carried off, and the soil can be culti-
vated to a greater depth. 1t is also
rendered more capable OF absorbing
moisture in dry weather, beside en-
abling crops to be planted earlier,
and making them produce more
ai,undantly. 1t not only increases
the fertility o: the soil, but it mate
rally changes its aspect and temper
ature. Wet and swanpy ground Is
into dry and productive
soil, while the superfuous water is
carried off, freeing the atmosphere
from lowering vapors, which are in
furious to lite and health. In seas
ons of heavy rains the superfiuous
water is speedily and safely carried
of, SO as to admit of working the
soil without unnecessary delay.
There are few farms, portions OF
which would not pay well for the ex-
pense OF draining. especially when it
can be doae so cheaply. 1t is far
better, by draining and deep plow
ing, to cultivate a few acres well,
than to farm great many indiffer-
emily. Fifty acres, which produce
full crops, are more profitable than a
hundred which Weld only half crops
II those who grow poor crops would
blame the weather and the seasons
ess, would drain more, plow deeper,
md enrich the soil by grasses and
they would find that the
Weather and the seasons are not SO
much to be blamed ior the failures
Lfter all -