The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1878-06-01
Drainage a Safeguard Against
Drought.

Farmers in many parts of the coun-
try know what direct and damaging
effect the wet weather of last wear, as
we'll as years previous, had upon the
various crops. In the corn belt the
early rains delayed the planting until
so late that much of the corn failed TO
grow or to ripen, and rs now rottins
in the cribs.
Large areas of corn and other crops
were also completely drowned out by
the heavy rains and the surplus water
which could find no outlet from the
submerged fields. Thus individual
farmers have lost their crops, while the
cause. is easily discernible; but when
the season alternates from wet To an
extremely dry one. as it is sure to 20
In this climate of extremes in meteoro-
logical influences. the result of short
crops is hardly TO be accounted for. A
strict observance, however. by the
thoughtful farmer soon uufolds TO him
a knowledge of some Of the processes
of fertilization and plant growth. He
learns that most of our Western soils
rest upon u foundation as impervious to
water as if made of glue. A fertile soil
is building of most wonderful archi-
lecture, and its columns, spaces and
aqueducts, not for the purpose of hold
ing water like jug, but great and
comprehensive stOrehouse, in which
ale deposited the riches Of the earth,
the air, the sunshine aud tine falling
rain.
AS dry earth is considered to be the
best disinfectant known, so is it intend
ed to absorb ali malarial gases which
are the seeds of disease aud death afioat
IN the atmosphere. but when laid in
store il the soil, they are appropriated
to vegetable growth, and are turned
into blessing, instead Of curse to
mankind. In the level and undrained
regions all the evil tendencies are to be
seen, while the intrinsic value of the
soil, in an agricultural point of view.
may be of the best. Daring the wet
periods. when lands must lie in q satu-
rated condition, the porosity of the
soil is broken down. The fertilizing
gases are expelled from their hiding
places, and the roots of the growing
crops are compelled TO creep nearer the
surface, and reach out into the sunlight
for subsistence While this is the case,
the first few scorching, dry days may
ruin the farmers hopes by converting
the soil into bricks, and the roots of
plants into dry branches.
The water supply being kept SO near,
and within reach of the roots of vegeta-
ton, is "a wise provision of nature if
the water is kept three or four feet
beneath the surface by artificial means.
This is secured by either tile draining
OF open bitches, the tile being prefera-
BILE. for the reason that 1t does not
lessen the cultivated surface OF thei
ground. Many farmers have found
tile laying to pay for itself ia "a single
year. to say nothing of the satisfaction
derived from cultivating such IA soil
and what may be gained iii the health
ful condition of the climate.
In laying tiles, farmers should not
make the mistake SO often made. of
laying that which is too small. When
the fall is but slight the tiles should be
large in proportion to the length of
drain and kept free with good outlet.
Many farmers already are taking ad-
vantage of the cheapness at which the
work can be done, and find the results
more than satisfactory, and as the de-
mand for it increases the facilities for
cheapness will be accelerated - Western
Rural.