The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1881-07-22
THE PRESS.
Points of Interest in Drainage.

tOlQJS OF interest," III DrdlldS0.
The clouds annually give us rainfall of
from three to four feet. little more than
half of which is removed by evaporation,
leaving vast quantity to go off either over
the soil or through it. The water that passes
over the surface carries with it the finer
soil and very much of the strength Of the
manure which may be spread upon it which
is lost. If the land is thoroughly drained,
large proportion of the water not taken up
by evaporation, together with the fertilizing
elements that it contains, may be taken into
the soil and the water passed out through
the drains clear, and the fertilizing proper
ties retained by the soil to serve as food for
plants.
See to it that every tile rests firmly upon
an even grade, and evenly jointed with the
next tile before it is covered. The water
passing along the drain should not meet
with any resistance. When tiles are unev-
emily laid, shouldered at the joints, the di-
rection of the flow is changed, reducing the
capacity of the drain.
Where there is water flowing in the bot
tom of the drain it is not sufficient to de-
pend upon the smoothness of the flow to de-
termine the even grade of the bottom. Not
unfrequently the spade in softer clay will be
forced down an inch or more in depth at one
point, than at another, and the bottom of
from above settling to the lowest places, fiji
ling them up so as to present to the eye an
even flow of water, while, in fact, there is
quite a difference in the grade of the bottom
The tile when laid will settle down in the
sediment, making an uneven grade, reduc-
ing the capacity of the drain, and causing
the silt inside of the tile to be deposited in
the low places when the water runs low.
Drainage is a permanent investment.
- G+n lNA, x~DI
or two years, like the application of man.
ures or fertilizers, or in one generation, if
well done. Though it is expensive in the
beginning, yet year after year the benefits
are reaped, and still on for generations. 1t
may not pay back in one or two years the
moneyand labor expended, though expert
enced men of undoubted veracity, say it
viii pay the expense in two years, and often
in one with intelligent culture. Yet it is a
safe, sure and profitable investment, paying
large interest in the run of few years.
Some enterprising tile manufacturers Sc
lect careful farmers who own fat lands, and
make them something like the following
proposition: That the farmer make a care
full estimate of his average crops, and the
tile manufacturer proposes to furnish the
tile necessary to drain thoroughly. the land
designated in the agreement, the farmer to
furnish the labor of putting in the drains, al
stipulated price, to be paid out of the ex-
cess of crops grown on the land, over and
above the average yield, before agreed upon
and the tile manufacturer agreeing to take
the balance of The increase in four or five
crops las agreed) to cover the. cost of the
tile.
On level lands where the average crops in
five years run low, and the land by nature
rich, it is safe proposition for the tile
manufacturer if the farmer honestly per-
forms bis part of the contact.
On rich level land that needs drainage,
and need it badly, it will pay twenty-five
per cent. annually on the investment and in
some instances more.
We desire to impress upon the minds OF
every onel beginning to drain, that it is econ.
omy to begin with thorough work. Dc
nothing in permanent investment of this
character temporarily. Look forward to the
time when the whole of the land, needing
drainage, shall be thoroughly drained. Be
gin right and it will end right, with indus
try and enterprise. Open drains intended
TO be used as an outlet for tile drains
should be excavated deeper than it is intend
ed for the tile, to enter, and graded to ar
angle that will not slip down from the sides
In differen. soils and clays, different angles
are required. When open drains can be
made under-drains, they ought to be avoid
ed for the reason that they take up land that
should be in cultivation, and not unfrequent
ly become plague spots in the field,
harbor for weeds and other pests.-Dralr
age Journal.