Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-08-08
FARM AND GARDEN.
METHOD FOR hECLAIMING SWAMP
LAND.

There are none so little skilled in REGARD
10 the capabilities Of the soil as not to bt
aware that some lands naturally produce
abundant heritage or rich crops, while
Others refuse to yield nourishing pasture
and sIe deaf to the often-repeated solieita.
lions of the diligent husbandman. There
exists, therefore, universally understood
connection between the kind of soil and the
kind of plants that naturally grow upon it.
The first step to be taken in order to in
crease the fertility Of nearly all swamp
lands, is to drain them. The advantages
which result from draining are manifold.
We all know that the presence of too
much water in the soil keeps it constantly
cold. The heat of the SUMS rays, which is
intended by nature TO warm the land, is
expended in cooperating the water from
its surface, and thus the plants never expe-
Tieuce that genial warmth about their roots
which so much favors their rapid growth.
Where too much water is present in the
soil, also, that portion Of the food of the
plant which the soil supplies is SO much
diluted, that either a much greater quantity
Offluid must be taken in by the roots, or
the plant wiz be scantily nourished. The
presence of so much water in the stem and
leaves keeps down their temperature also,
then the sunshine appears, and increased
evaporation takes place from their surfaces
"a lower natural heat in consequence,
prevails in the interior Of the plant, and the
chemical changes, on which its growth de-
ponds, proceed with less rapidly.
By the removal of the water, the physical
properties Of the soil, also, are in a remark
able degree improved. The access of air is
essential to the fertility of the soil, and to
the healthy growth of most of our cultiva-
ted crops. The insertion of drains not
only makes room for the air to enter by re-
moving the water, but actually compels the
air to penetrate into the under parts of the
soil, and renews it at every successive fall
of raia-Opens such outlets for the water
below, and as this water tIickles away, 1t
will suck the air after it, and draw it into
the pores of the soil wherever itselfhas been.
Vegetable matter becomes of double
value in a soil thus dried and filed with at
mOspheric air. When drenched with water
this vegetable matter either decomposes
very slowly, or produces acid compounds
more CT less unwholesome to the plant, and
,t-,4, IL
upon the earthly and saline constituents of
he soil. In the presence of air, on the
contrary, this vegetable matter decomposes
rapidly, produces carbonic acid in large
quantity, as well as other compounds on
which the plant can live, and even renders
the inorganic constituents of the soil more
fitted to enter the roots, aud thus to supply
more rapidly what the several parts Of the
plant required.
Swamp lands, as general rule, are Of
dark brownish color, which is due to the
presence Of organic, chiefly vegetable mat
ter, in peculiar decomposed state, minute
ly divided and intimately mixed with min
eral matter. This vegetable matter is dis
tinsuished by two circumstances:
l. That it forms comparatively free and
open soil, into which the air penetrates and
the roots of plants descend freely.
.. It contains in a state of combination
considerable proportion Of nitrogen.
Through the action Of the air this nitrogen
will favor the production in the soil of nitric
acid, ammonia and other soluble compounds
containing nitrogen, which are so propitious
to the growth of plants.
When drained ard laid down to grass,
they produce almost invariably at first-one
soft woody grass, the H0lcuS ll1latus |
so beneficial to stock. After they are LINED
these same soils become propitious 10 green
crops and produce much straw.
As regards the depth of drains, the soil |
should be opened up TO the greatest depth |
to which it can be economically done. Now,
by the use of the subsoil plough the soil |
eau be stirred 10 depth of "a or Is inches.
The tle-Or the top of the drain-f made |
of stone, should be at least inches clear
OF this disturbance of the upper soil; and
as most tiles occupy at least three inches,
we reach 30 inches as the minimumldepth Of
a drain. Where the surface is bad, and a |
depth Of 30 inches or 8 feet cannot be OBJ |
tanned, The drains should be made as deep
as they can be made to run and deliver
waser.
The question Of economy is one of great
Importance. In some places it costs as much
to dig cut the lowest foot as is paid for all
the upper; and this additional cost is, in
many Localities, a valid reason for limiting
the depth TO 30 iuches, or three feet.