Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1882-09-20
Draining of Land
BY WILLIAM SAUNDERS.

said and written upon the suoJect
OF underground drainage, it has not
yet become a popular operation on
our farming lands. There are var
ious obvious reasons for tins.
Many persons have doubts regard
ing its value. Tie expense Of
thorough drainage is considerable,
although the labor of digging and
cost of materials is often greatly
exaggerated, yet the difficulty Of
procuring either is, N most local.
ties sufficient to e.erminethose who
have no practical experience 10 the
execution of the work, and who can
not avail themselves OF intelligent
supervision; Tor in this, as in all
other practical operations, very
much depends upon the economic
application and direction Of labor.
The experience Impractical drain
ers, both in this and other countries
prove beyond all controversy the
great advantages which accrue from
The thorough drainage Of all soils.
Even in lands not particularly re-
t,nti,e of water the effect OF under
ground ventilation or aeeration is
evidence by their increased capa-
city for production. With drained
soil the lultivator is prepared either
for a vet or dry season, for 1t is
well established that draining i'll
creases the capacity OF tie soil tor
retaining moisture or moist air,
which is precisely what the roots
OF plants require. 1t is mistake
to suppose that draining actually
has tie effect OF drying land TO the
extent OF depriving it OF all ayalla-
bic moisture. The reverse is nearer
tue truth, that there is more avail
able moisture Tor plants in draii cd
than there is in undrained land.
Every description Of soil has It's
relative degree OF porosity or power
for retaining moisture. Pcaty or
messy soils, mainly composed Of
partially decayed organic matters.
are the most porous, and conse-
quenlly are the greatest absorbenis
o water, while compact clayey soils
have this capacity In a very limited
degree. Draining a Peaty soil Will
not deprive it OF porosity it may
be hkened 10 sponge which will
retain all the water that may be
poured on it until It's pores ale fill
ID, but no more 50 draining re-
lieyes The soil OF supe1hUous MOSS
TUE that cannot be retained or held
in suspension by air, and which, if
not removed by pcrcolatlOn, can
,- he removed by the slow pro
c.. "V .. surface, evaporation.
.Clay soils cannot produce to Tie
tnll extent OF their ability unless
muderdraintd. The ordinary lou-
,;ne operation OF plOwlug has d
tendency to form a compacIed strata
immediately below the cultivated or
lowed portion. which acts as a
p pos;n in tie retention Of water
C"ah SOS are cold and late, be-
nsrs, die wafer prevents the hea;
de sun nom waning tie soil
Gntl The water las ,ecn removed
by evaporation. which produces
cold so that in ADDITION 10 the
mpracucabilily OF carly spring
cropping u such soils, every sum
n.or SHOW er cools lhe earth surround
mg lie roots OF The growing plar's,
which linus sustain series Of
checks IL IAor PROCESS TO malui-
iiy.
These evils ale removed "y
draining. Even tie strongest clays
aIe more or less leimealco by veins
OF sand CT grave, sometimes W a
lay Ell Of Vegetable matter winch ras
collected III a crack OF hssure, but
50 long as thee Is no Quiet beneath
ticse conducting VEINS are mcri,
but Wien uhderaid with clalas
iheil action Is at once apparent; in'
suLsOii Hat previously held waIe'
Ike BASIN LOW transmits il hAc
q filler, ~ d a. tie water snks tie
an fellows; lie !ains descend lecl.
Though tho soil. carrying TO lie
lCO1s lie Iulnlle elements Mil
winch Ii IS olagod, HE atsOlbn {
liCl cIly IS increased, Ii holds moe
nCisiut, III Susl Cnsion, and crops
l,nah luAuIiaII even IA seasons Vi
'Mou;h, ;Lo .upuHuous Waiei
len Q iemC, d Nciu telcw, Tie heat
OF tie sun Is cccLUnizcd IA wmmns
The son, mste. d ol Icmg 'Nl cndco
III tie evaporation o. surface water.
Briefly II may lie stated thai
some OF Ike advantages Of under
GiWlnng consists III the romo'aI OF
sitgutht water iom the spriace,
ana cX1Css OF moisture hCm leagy
iains; lie temperature OF the sol Is
increased, winch allows early p.ant-
ing OF crops, and hasIens thur ma
tu.ily, 1t eeualizes tie temperature
of tie soil curing tie grcwng seas
son; it oqualizes the moisture OF lie
soil, so that crops are III a great
measu { except from the evils re
sultlng from excess q rainfall on
tie ole hand, or from deficiency
of rain fall Oil The otLci; the roots
OF plants are supplied with soluble
4 ] a