Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1872-10-31
Drainage.

Drainage.
The following digest OF lecture be-
fore the Iowa Agricultural College. by
Prof. G. W. Jones, we find in the Ioua
Homestead Ns
The practica! and important question
asked by every farmer and.gardener is,
will drainage pay? That depends on
many considerations, to be developed in
the course of these lectures. 1t may
doubtless be said, however. at the out
set that on most of the lands of Iowa it
would not pay 1t present; that most of
our farmers are at present too poor to
undertake it; and further, that the
greater part of our lands do not need it.
There remains small part of our lands
that would be benefited by it, few
farmers that are abundantly able to
undertake such permanent improve
ments, and some lands which, from
their peculiar positions. would warrant
the outlay. Among such may be
enumerated gardens, nurseries, orchards,
village lots, highways, dairy farms
near large cities, and in general such as
are of great value in the market or re-
ceive much labor in cultivation: and it
is manifest that the area of such lands
is rapidly increasing year by year; but
for cheap and remote lands the
time has not yet come. On what lands
is drainage needed? In general, lands
with gravelly or sandy subsoil need no
artificial drainage, for the subsoil itself
allows the free overflow of the surface
water. Lands with a clayey subsoil
only need drainage. 1t is needed wher-
ever the subsoil does not of itself allow
a ready outflow. The indications of
such needs are numerous and distinct.
They are standing water, rank, coarse
vegetable growth, wide cracks during
drought, curling, corn, fogs, the collec-
ton of water in pits in the spring, or
general muddiness. The conditions
cultivated plants are warmth, moisture,
and are in due proportion in the soil,
and for subsequent growth fertility. A
very dry soil checks growth by want of
moisture; very hard or wet soil by
want of air; a very cold one by want of
needed heat.
Our soils are made up of particles
more or less finely divided, with spaces
between. They are best fitted for cul-
tivation when moderately moist. not
wet. e., when air Ellis the larger and
water the smaller spaces. The Office OF
drainage is to remove the surplus wafer
The source of water in our soils is three.
fold-rain, overflow, and springs. The
rain in summer is warm, and is loaded
with ammonia and nitric acid. II
should be absorbed and filtered by the
soil. The overflow is often hurtful and
seldom useful; it is generally to be
avoided. The springs are cold, have nc
fertility. chill and check vegetation
they are to be cut of. Water is removed
from soil in three ways by evaporation
by overflow, and by filtration. The first
cools the soil by the absorption of heal
in the act of evaporation; the second
washes out and away all the finer ano
richer parts of the soil-they are botl
to be avoided the last leaves its warmth
and fertility in the soil, works down
ward. and is always to be chosen. IL
this end the soil must be comparatively
dry and mellow, for if it be hard the
rain cannot penetrate it; and it if it b.
already surcharged with water it car
receive no more. In both it must fov
OF above the ground. The kinds o
drains are various. In stoney fields
wide bitches are sometimes dug ane
filed with stones, more or less CAREFUL,
laid. 1t makes a useful drain and
good deposit of useless stones. Sucl
drains are likely in time to be choke'
with dirt and fail. The bottom may
filed with brush, covered with boar,
or straw, then earth. 1t works well til
decay and final settlement choke anC
destroy it. A pillow with a long coulte
makes mole drain. Open drains serv
well to carry off surplus water, but nee
constant attention to prevent filling
besides, they are convenient in tn
fields. The above is make-shift affair
frequently useful, and frequently tn
only thing possible. The object of thes
lectures, however, is to explain tho
ough and complete system of perm'
nent drainage.