The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1882-12-07

AItlHlnR IHnQ Dy the emDlOVment OF
tile placed several feet bel5w bs s,,,.-
face of the ground has rnade INT l;ttis
progress in the Western States mill
within the past few years. The oreat
advantages of this method of aTainino J
damp soils were demonstrated In war;
Dus parts of Europe MANY wears aoo
and the system there pursusd was IN,
PRODUCED into some of tbe Eastern
States There was q orestaT. necasaityy
forunderdraina@e. in Tho West than in
the East, for the reasons that the srr-
face of the land is more nearly level and
the soils more retentiye of moisture. 1t
is also true in respect TO many portions
of the West that the rainfall is very un-
equally distributed during the year.
There is a great excess during the early
cart of the season and deficiency dur
ing the latter portion. The desirable
ity of thorough, systematic and scien-
hfic land drainage was acknowledged,
but several reasons prevented its adop-
bon. Many farmers were In debt for
their land, or for improvements they
had made on it. Others owed consider
able for farming implements and stock.
Still others were desirous of buying
more land In the vicinity OF their farms
Whiie IL was still comparatively cheap.
All these persons hesltated about bor-
rowing money 10 improve their places
Dy laying oraln-tlie. A farmer who has
lust got out OF debt hesitates to plunge
IN again: lie realizes such relief from
great burden that he is reluctant to
assume new one. Farmers who are
land-hungry are reluctant to pay out as
mucn money to drain piece of land as
IL WIZ cost TO purchase another piece of
equm exGen@ BESIDES, many farmers
nave ueglecteu TO drain their land for
want Oh lnIormatlon on the subject, and
On account OF lack OF material within
easy reach.
Ihe present is a favorable time for
western farmers to consider the pro-
Prlety or draining their low lands.
host OF them nave money to invest.
some desire more land, but they find it
hard to obtain in the vicinity of their
MONIES, Ihey can do no better than to
tlVe by means of drainage. On many
farms there are tracts that produce
nothlng but coarse grass that is of lit
Tie value Tor stock. These low tracts
can pe rendered. the most productive
Oh any on the farm by the iudicious
use OF drain-tile. Low land receives
pne pne WASH or that which Les above 1t,
ana IN time becomes very rich in all
The clements of plant food. BY the
use OF draln-tile the area of. plowable
Aana can he greatly increased on large
Sroportlon OF prairie farms. BY the
Xame means the productivcness OF much
Mnd that can be .plowcd in favorable
seasons can be increased. In many
cases the yield OF nearly all the cult
Yated crops can be doubled by the
auoplon OF suitable drainage. If a
farmer wishes to rase more than he
now Goes, and has the choice between
buying more land and draining what he
owns IT IS better TO select the latter
course. By so doing he will save fenc-
ing ana taxes. He will also save much
!apor. NO more plowing and cultivat-
:ag, &na ent little more labor in harvest
ing, are required to produce large
crop than small one. Drainage in
creases the quality as well as the guam
(, nty or crops: 1t also lengthens out the
season IN which the land can be worked.
IL enables the farmer to plow earlier in
he spring and later in the fall. 1t also
enaDlcs nm TO do better work with any
implement he uses IN the soil. 1t helps
insure crops against bad seasons.