The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1874-12-11
gome, farm and gardfn
Theory Of Drajnsse

Theory Of Drainage.
The importance of a thorough system
Of drainage cannot be over estimated
Its Importance is becoming each year
more fully appreciated by the farmers
in this region OF Ohio. In results there
from we realize only the first fruits, and
that to a limited extent The benefits
which must accrue from engineering and
scientific skill as applied TO the opera
tions of farming, will hereafter be more
apparent.
Under the above caption we find the
following iudieious remarks from the
pen of Mr. J. H. Klippart; Esq, 10
which we invite the attention of our
readers:
''The chif object of drainage is to
Iiberate the superfuons moisture in
springy land, or such lands as have an
impervious strata near the surface of
the soil-the carrying away of the wa
ter which accumulates Oh the surface,
from rains, SHOWS, or freshets, is a sec
ondaie object only of thorough drain
age. When there are springs there is a
continued tendency of the water to
force through the superinc um be n
strata, SO as TO rise and spread over the
surface-such land must, even in times
of drought, contain more than proper
amount of moisture.
%lara 10 y, iYpr,art-ioflS Sr1 hsnil
it is there where subterranean waters
accumulate and remain a given period,
and then, perhaps, disappear. As
general thing, ground water sinks the
deepest, late in the summer; in autumn
It begins to rise, and in winter and
spring it attains its maximum hight.
Now, when the winter and spring waters,
from rains and SHOWS, from the surface,
find their way down to the waters re-
tanned, and resting on the subsoil, then
the entire soil becomes too thoroughly
saturated with moisture to admit of til
lage operations. Winter grains will not
succeed at all in such a soil, and sum
The roots of winter plants, in quest of
nourishment, penetrate to the subsoil, |
and finding superabundance of water,
becomes dropsical, and, consequently, !
perish; but if the roots can possibly
find their way into dryer portion of
the soil, even by returning towards the
surface (they not unfrequently do so),
vet even they become diseased, and the
plant becomes unthrifty and yields but
a small product; for, according to the
natural tendency, every plant pushes its
roots downward, and if it does not sue
ceed, it is prevented only by the stony
or watery condition of the subsoil. But
even when the water is withdrawn from
the surface of the field, there is but lit
tie to be hoped for in regard to cultiva-
ted plants; for the soil, previously soft
sned, now hardened by the influence of
he SUMS rays and air, does not permit
he requisite circulation of air, and pre-
-ents the extension of the roots. A
cry natural consequence is, that the
liant becomes diseased and yield but
title.
The condition of things exist also
With respect to summer crops upon wet
rounds. Late sowing, alone, can sue
eed; the water-hardened soil is very
ifficult to work, and, therefore, affords
,,ar,, ;nconpafanf niduS or had for tho | I
rowth of plants. Consequently, plants
ucceed badly, under all these circum-
tances; an entire failure of the crop,
ldeed, may occur, if a sudden violent |
ain unites its influence with the rising !
round wafer.
Now a rational agriculture requires {
nat the spring and ground water be re-
loved; for, however necessary moisture
the soil may be for the successful d
rowth of the plants, yet, as we have Il
Iperienced an excessive amount of -"
loisture produces the opposite effect
n excess of moisture in the soil is re- Z
'gnized by certain water-plants, such I"
bent-grass reeds sbave-prass moss g
etc., growing, and gradu- u
Iy crowding out useful plants. The u
lor and condition of the plants them Il
ves, also Indicate the superabundance u
moisture in the soil. They are gen. p
lily coarse and reddish, when the u
ants vegetate in excessive moisture.
le standing of rain or snow water up OF
l the surface, is also evidence of su- ii
erabundance of moisture, or if, after II
ard, rents or cracks appear, or crust 81
Ice form in the burrows at the slight ~
81 1rost. Finally, the appearance of dl
le SOIL at certain seasons, show that it. in
Hers on account of too much water m
for example, the spring winds have fo
led the surface of the ground. so that n
e would think all the moisture gone. =,
d dark spots present themselves upon -
: surface, this shows that much wafer =
lnds there.-Buckeye Granger. ~ ~
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