Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1879-07-18
Importance Of Inde draining

The great need of our American agriculture
is drainage. 1t is also the first to be attended
to- underlying and controlling as it does the
success of the whole farming enterprise
Without it the farm is only farm in part. 1t
is well known that wet soil is not profitable
soil that partially wet soil is only partially
profitable and that it requires dry, we'll
drained land TO answer all the purposes You
then, and then only, get the full benefit of
the land for then, and then only, is it in
condition to work Few farmers, however,
are aware of the extent that our land needs
drainage. 1t looks dry enough, and at the
surface is so. 1t will grow grain and grass,
and even to some extent corn and fruit trees,
and SO the evil is not suspected. Thus farms
are run for generations always at II compare
tive loss-some fields in a wet season COM
plete failure; and the thing is not mended in
dry season, as would be supposed. as then
the soil Ga wet soil is usually a clay soil) is
baked and becomes hard, showing large
cracks. How much land of this description
there is 1t all needs draining, and needs it
greatly. swamp it is known what to do
with, but here is an evil out of sight. Yet
has it manifestations by which it may be
known; in n wet time the water sinks away
slowly, so that vegetation assumes sickly
appearance, turns yellow, and, unless relieved,
dies. We have already described the effect of
drought. Grass and grain are lifted by the
frost on such land. This is common and
great evil-so great that one would suppose it
would set farmers to thinking, and adopting
the means of avoidingit it. All farmers having
such land are severe sufferers; and most of
our land is of this nature. Except in some
shaley or sandy districts there are few farms
that do not need it, either in smaller or larger
spots sometimes whole fields, and not unfre
quently entire farms. Beside the signs we
have mentioned, sure test is the post-hole.
If that keeps water in dry time, the land
suffers serious damage every year while it re-
mains in this condition. Right here is where
the neglect is. We see the effect in the
spring, not only in the plant being thrown to
the surface but the frost remaining late, usu-
ally about two weeks later before the ice in
the soil is thawed, and then still wet, taking
sometimes till quite late before the ground is
dry enough to put in, leaving it almost inva-
riably hard. We see it in the suffering crops
in rainy season, when the grain droops and
the weeds thrive-new dormant weeds spring
ing into life. And we behold it with regret
when the ground is parched; and all the while
we lay it to the weather; so the evil is con-
tinued. And what are we going to do about
it In the first place, man has no business
to purchase farm unless he knows what to
do with it, and particularly how to put it in a
condition to work, for it is only then that it is
his purchase means sufficient to drain his land
where it needs it, which does not necessarily
require sum covering the whole amount,
but sufficient to start the work and carry it ON
to completion in reasonable time the sooner,
of course, the better. To drain but a quarter
or sixth of the land in year would require
but comparatively short time, meanwhile
the improved land aiding to finish the rest
The expense, all things considered, is from
tbirfx. ~ JOll 4
be put in the estimate when the farm is Sc
cured, which requires a previous acquaintance
with the soil All is matter of bare calcula-
ton. As to those who already have their
land, and may be i'll n strait as to what to do
with it, the sooner they begin to lay the foun-
dation SO long neglected, the better. Begin
to dig at once, even if it requires extra effort
This can be afforded at first, and it may be,
and quite likely is, the means of saving the
land. And now for the final and most impor-
tant advice make thorough work as far as
you go; for clogged drain is no drain at all,
and the bitches too shallow or too far apart is
but little better Your ditching must be done
SO as to drain thoroughly and permanently.
As to how it is to be done, l will not attempt
TO explain here There is SO much variety of
soil and difference in the lay of the land, and
other things affected by locality, etc, that it
would require more space than can be given
here. There are books that will tell all about
it. But the better way is to confer with
man who is qualified to give advice, and let
him examine and give directions for, remem-
Der, to drain farm-the whole OF it's next
to buying one. The importance, therefore,
of proceeding carefully, beginning with a
trustworthy man for advice, and carrying out
the work faithfully to the end, which makes,
in effect new farm. / say this the more as
so much poor ditching is done.-F g., in
| Utica Herald.