Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1873-04-14
2feric,llfural Department
+. d. R. COLLINS, Editor.
Written for the Orleans County Monitor.
DRAINING.

y
experience, few are acquainted with.
It is generally conceded to be of great
practical benefit, but the question of time
and labor, together with that never fail
ing query: swill it pay % stands in the
way of its general adoption by the far
mers. Over two-thirds Of the land
throughout the country, would be bene-
fitted by enchanting, and full one
half would abundantly pay the expense.
The kinds of soil benefited by it are
nearly as unlimited as the kinds of soil
in existence. 1t is common opinion
among farmers that the only soils which
require draining, are those which are at
times covered with water-such as
swamps and the low lands This is a |
mistaken notion. All soils in which the |
water of heavy rains does not immediate
ly pass down to the depth of at least 80
inches, will we'll pay the expense of
understanding. The advantages of
understanding are many and important,
and let us notice few of them. 1st,
it lessons the frequency Of frosts. Every
one knows that the neighborhood of
marsh is sure to be exposed to late spring,
and early autumnal frvsts. The deep,
dry uplands of our own state often es-
capes, when the Indian corn harvest, five
hundred or thousand feet lower, is al
most or entirely destroyed. But this
danger ceases as the marshes are drained,
and this is particularly observable in
cool climate like ours. 1t also entirely
prevents drought, because it gives bet
ter circulation of air in the SOIL There
is always the same amount of water in
and about the surface of the earth. z In
winter there is more in the soil than in
summer, while in summer, that which
has been dried out of the soil exists in
the atmosphere in the form of a vapor.
1t is held in a vapor form by heat which
acts as braces to keep it distended. When
vapor comes in contact with substances
sufficiently colder than itself, it gives up
its heat, thus loses its braces, contracts,
and becomes liquid water. This opera
alton takes place in the soil. When the
air is allowed to circulate among its low
er and cooler particles, they receive
, moisture from the same process of con-
densation.. Therefore, when by the aid
, of under-drains, the lower soil becomes
sufficiently open to admit of a circula-
, tion of air. the deposit of atmospheric
moisture will keep the soil supplied with
water at point easily accessible to the
| roots of plants. Under draining also
warns the lower portions of the soil, be-
e cause the deposits of moisture is neces.
t sarily accompanied by an abstraction OF
heat from the atmospheric vapor, and
e because heat is withdrawn from the whole
. amount Of air circulating through the
e cooler soil. There is always current
t of air passing from the lower to the up
It per end of well constructed drain
a and this air is always cooler in warn
It weather when it issues from, than wher
s. it enters the drain. This heating of tn,
n lower soil renders it more favorable t,
d vegetation, partially by expanding thu
y spongioles at the ends of the root, thu
d enabling them to absorb larger quaint
1t ties of nutritious matter. Under-drain
'e ing also improves the mechanical textur
1T Of the soil. because by the decomposition
ot of its parts, it is rendered of characte
lie more easily worked while smooth, roun
y particles, which have a tendency to pack
v. are roughened by the oxidation of thei
III surfaces, and move less easily anon
N each other. BY understanding, grasse
are prevented from running out, partl
by preventing the accumulation of pois
& onous eXcrementitious matter, and partl
because these grasses usually consist
tillering plants These plants continl
oo ally reproduce themselves in sprou
Of from the upper parts of the roots. Thes
e- sprouts become independent plants an
IS. continue to tiller until the roots
the stools, OF clumps of tillers, come
NJ contact with an uncongenial part Of tt
,at soil, when the tillering ceases, the stoo
rk become extinct on the death of the
te- plants, and the grasses run out. II
e. open and healthy condition of Il
I'D soil, produced by under draining, pr
we vents the tillering from being stoppe
TX and this keeps up full growth of gra
yer until the nutriment of the soil is exhaus
~ ed. By removing the excess of wats
IN soils are rendered earlier in spring, /
of cause the water, which rendered the
The cold, heavy, and untillable, is earlier ]
eeS moved, leaving them sooner in growi
'n' condition. We are able to work soon
an after rains, because the water descen
er, and is removed Immediately, instead
yes lying to be taken off by the slow proct
TOT of evaporation. and sinking through
ny heavy soil. The effects of cold weatl
re- are kept off longer il the fall, beca1
me the soil is warmer after than before
Id ing drained, thus actually lengtheni
aio the season, by making the soil wa
net enough for vegetable growth earlier
elf the spring and later in the autumn.