The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1871-07-15
FARM AND HOUSEHOLD.
Drainage.

see in number of The New Eng
land Farmer, letter from Mr. John
A. Jones, of Ripley, asking for informa-
ton in relation to drainage Of land that
has tight pan subsoil, and which inqu-
Tries l have considered. Having had
some little experience in the drainage
of land, beg to offer a few remarks to
brother farmers, subscribers to the Ger
mantown Telegraph, who are long dis
tances from where draining pipe and
tile are made. There are lots of farming
"pamphleteers," some of whom know
about as much of practical farming and
draining as an ass could Of snipe-catch-
ing. Their motto is to sell their book.
But give me the writing of practi-
cal farmer who is not ashamed to sign
his name in full at the end of the article
he writes in any paper. Judge French's
work on Drainage may be an excellent
work, but he don't seem to quite under
stand stone drainage. Though with all
due Difference to that gentlemans judg-
ment, as also that of the worthy editor
of The New England Farmer, cannot
but differ in opinion with both. In the
first place Judge French must think
but very poorly of US farmers common
sense generally to imagine any one,
who knows peas from beans, would
ever think Of putting in drain only
foot deep. From the tenor of Mr.. Jones'
letter he is for economy as well as dur
ability, and to 60 upon Judge French's
plan would be paetty near as expensive
as having draining pipe or tile transpor-
ted by railway but to say the least oft
it could not be done without considerable
extra expense, which would be altogeth-
err useless in q stone drain. Then for
the Judge to talk of filling in with shay
ings. Farmers have not always plan
ing mills on their farmsf, at least not
up in this western country, to supply
such commodity and one too that
would in q short time rot out and the
soil sink that thickness. Perhaps Judge
French is not aware that if drain is
dug from four to five feet deep in hard,
tight pan, as it is here called, and the
soil thrown in again without either pipe,
tile. poles, stone or shavings, that that
land would have on either side will
drain to q great extent through not
sufficient to insure good crops in wet
seasons but if stones are thrown in at
the bottom of the drain and adjusted a
little, with small stones scattered ON the
tops to fill in the larger apertures be-
tween, and if there is only very tri-
fling fall. that is permanent drain and
will last for century, and drain the
land effectually from eight to ten feet
on each side. There needs be no hay
no shavings, no nothing, the soil will
set in solid on the stones as on shaw
ings. So far from the small stones be-
ing injurious they would be beneficial
by helping the drainage.
Neither do agree with our worthy
editor of The New England Farmer on
the ground that the smaller stones
would be resting place for moles. l
don't just see the point, and think the
moles would have better working stuff
through hay, turf or shaving, and tho
the water may in q few instances
pour down through these moles holes
into the stones below it would soon fill
up, but not be so likely to stop the
drainage as if made according to Judge
French's plan of a duct or culvert.
Where pipe, tile and stone are not easy
get-at-able the land can be drained with
poles, aud will last many years. l have
drained with poles and find it to answer
we'll. ! put in the bottom of drain
three poles or young oak trees grubbed
for tho purpose with roots on, and then
two and then one on top, placing them
in the drain with the end downhill
putting at the mouth or outlet some
roots with pole cut off to keep the drain
open. If the land falls two ways, east
or west and north or south, it matters
not if some drains are put in each way,
so they can empty freely. In some
cases large receiving drain is needed
to conduct aud carry off the water from
the smaller drain.
Germantown Telegraph.
THRASH THE GRAIN EARLY-It is
always economical to thrash early
We would advise every farmer, who
can possibly do it, to thrash his wheat,
rye, and oats, as the crop is drawn
from the field. There are many consid-
erations in favor Of doing this LIST. BY
reason of tho state of dryness in which
it is hauled off the field, the grain is in
better condition for the thrashing mach
inc Cor certainly as good). than at any
other time. I'd. Only one handling is
necessary, and thus labor is saved.3d.
At harvest-time grain is almost always
in better demand by millers and in the
genarsl market often brings higher
price than at, other times. Taking one
year with another, it will be found that
this is the most advantageous time to
market grain for speculation, very well
he has right to become Spectator
if any one has; but we hold as general
rule, that so soon as farmer has his
produce ready for market, then is his
best time to sell. The earliest markets
are almost invariably the best. We
were once enabled to sell the whole of
our crop Of wheat at high price, for
seed, because we had thrashed in time
and none of our ncighbors had Lastly
and most worthy Of consideration is the