The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1876-09-14


"Another great reason for draining |
land is the dry, healthful climate which |
it produces. We have not space to
dwell on this important point, but we
must say that if we lived where we see
some farmers living, we would drain the |
soil in selfdeiense against a cold, damp
air and unhealthy miasma, if for no
other reason. Turtles and frogs can live
n damp, marshy places, but mans
organism requires purer air. Draining
will give us such an air, and will prOlong
life indefinitely.
"Not only is life prolonged, but the
summer is extended at both ends by
thorough drainage, a consideration of no
small moment both for the crops and the
time for labor. IF the pillow can be
started a fortnight earlier in the spring,
and the whitening effects of frost post
pcned a fortnight in the fall, this gain
alone will compensate for the expense of
draining. This power of tiles to length
en- the season may be doubted by some,
but we testify to what we have seen,
when we say that land in its natural con-
dition unfit to pl.w till the middle of
June, has, by being thoroughly drained,
been rendered plowable by the middle Of
April, and that buckwheat on wet,
mucky soil has been cut down by frost
in the middle of September, while that
growing on contiguous but welldrained
land kept on growing and filling out
into October.
We have dwelt so long on the reasons
for drainage that we must pass over
briefly the modes. There is but one ap-
proved mode, and this by tiles. The
ditch required for tiles is SO rapidly laid,
and moreover, do their work so effect
ually, that we should never use stones
unless it was to get rid Of them, and even
then we think they would serve a better
purpose made into roads than into
bitches.
Gone of the most important rules for
draining is to do up the business thor
oughly. There is much meaning in the
common expression, through drainage
1t means that the bitches must be near
enough together, deep enough and
properly located. No definite rule can
be laid down as to their nearness and
depth. Some lands require them to be
laid twenty feet, some thirty feet and
some sixty feet apart, varying with the
character and strata Of the soil; and as
to the depth, this must also vary. Those
who Law down, as UNIVERSAL rule, that
drains must be three feet deep and thirty
feet apart, show that they are quacks in
the art. Old Walter Bligh, whom we
have before quoted, knew better than
this two centuries ago. This is what he
saws as to the depth: and for thy
drawing, it must be made so deep that it
goes to the bottom of the cold, spewing
movst water that feeds the fagg and
rush. Yes, suppose this corruption that
feedeth and nourisheth the rush or the
Haggs should be a yard or four foot deep,
to the bottom of it thou must go, if ever
thou wilt drayn it to purpose, without
which the water can not have its kindly
operation :. for though the water tatten
naturally, yet still this GOODNESS and mois-
ture lies knawing within, and not being
taken away it eats out what the water
fatte1s.'
"The location of the bitches is most
important matter Much money has
been sunk in drains that led around the
wet lands, but did not hit the main
sources of the water. In this matter Of
location follow the simple law that water
rms down hill and seeks the straightest
course possible to the rivers and seas
If turned out of this straight course, Oh
in any way INSTRUCTED, it always toams
if It does not fret about it. Cut the
main ditch through the main land, wher'
the water naturally runs; put in three
four, or sixinch tile, as the amount o
t water may demand, and then run sid'
bitches up the slopes with two or three
inch tiles in them. A two-inch tile, /
= the fall is sufficient, will carry off al
. immense amount of water in one day
which would otherwise be left in the sol
) slowly to evaporate and to make tn