The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1876-10-12
Drainage of Pastures.

zette, is point which has been fire.
quently discussed, and is one which it
would be we'll to see settled. Opinions
are freely expressed upon it in the
most excellent correspondence collect
ed upon the subject of laying down to
permanent pasture, in the current
number of the Royal Agricultural So
ciety's Journal; and some practical
men speak in favor, and others
against, a thorough drying of grass
land by artificial means. We hope we
may not be misunderstood if we eX-
press a degree of doubt as to the value
of much that is called practical opin-
ion on such point as this. The opin-
ion of farmers is guided by hearsay as
well as by their own experience; and
in The case before us the opinion is
generally founded upon actual eXpe-
rience of but small areas Of land.
Apart from this there must be a con-
siderable element of uncertainty i'll
comparing the produce Of pastures be-
fore and after drainage; much more
so than, for instance, in the case of
the yield of wheat on arabic land.
Not only quantity but quality of her
bage must also be taken into account,
and the question becomes further COM
plicated thereby.
We remember some years ago dress
ing pasture field with bones, one
ridge in the middle of the field being
left mmanured for the sake of COM
parison. This ridge becomes con-
spicuous from it carrying more grass
upon it than any other ridge in the field
Here was curious anomaly-the I'M
MANFRED ridge carrying more grass
but the reason was not far to seek, for
it consisted in stock persistently refus-
ing to eat the heritage and preferring
the sweeter grass grown upon either
side. Something similar, no doubt,
frequently occurs when pasture land
is drained, and coarse grasses that
make great show, are displaced by
finer heritage After the trying drouth
of 1868, Mr.. J. c. Morton took the OPP
portunity of collecting mass of evil
dence on the effects of draining past
ures, and the balance of evidence was
decidedly in favor of thorough drain.
age. Still there is no doubt that Opin-
ion is divided, and we think, allowing
these divergent opinions to be alike
sound. the difference to be found is the
nature of the soil. Let no one be
afraid of over-draining clay or even
loamy soil; but let caution be exer-
cised and experiments be instituted
before light soils are subjected to such
an expensive operation. We say this
in Difference to practical opinion; but
for ourselves, we have but small faith
in what is called "over-drainage.
We have never been able to under
stand the phrase, or how it is possible
to over-drain a field. We may be
wrong, but our idea is that a drain
simply allows of the discharge of sur
plus water, and that surplus water, or
water of approximation, is better dis
charged. When drain has run off
the surplus water, 1t ceases to act.
Again, a drain only acts upon the
section above it, and certainly not up
on the water existing in the soil below
it. Take the case of drain four feet
deep. This dram tends to free the
section of soil above it of its excess of
water, but it leaves the said section
saturated. Secure the discharge of
the water of supersaturation, and all
has been accomplished which drains
are capable of. Double or triple your
Trains, and they can do no more, and
hence we say we canpot grasp the idea
to be conveyed in the term cover
drainage" If it means that multi
Dlication of drains can cause the soil |
to give up a single drop of water
which by its porosity and capillary at
traction it is capable of holding, we
leny the possibility of the idea in toto.
If it means that pasture land, any
more than arabic, is the better of hold
ng an excess of water-by which we
mean water which would flow away if
t only could've again think it false
view. 1t is recommending filling up
he hole at the bottom of a ilower-pot;
t is arresting that circulation of both
tir and water through the soil which
cience has taught us to value and pro-
note. Do we not yet understand that
lnless water escapes through the soil
whether by naturally porous rocks or
artificial drains) water cannot enter it
1t the top? The freer the circulation,
he better far; by thorough drainage
,ffete, stagnant, injurious water is got
id of, and the fruitful rain is admitted
n company with the sweetening OK
dizing air,