Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1882-06-22
Land Drainage

OF agriculture contains the following
valuable statistics on the subject of tile
and other process of drainage
| The May circular included inquiries
rs to the distribution of underdrain-
ng, the material used, extent of such
provements, and especially the per-
centage of increased production from
understanding. 1t was not expected
that exact information of the extent of
drainage improvement would be OBJ
tanned. Some correspondents evident
ly waited for more precise data and
did not report; but 1,2l7 counties are
represented in the returns, of which
702 appear to have no understanding
of any description. Illinois, Indiana,
and Ohio report the largest extent.
Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New
York exhibit commendable activity in
draining, and the work is progressing in
the Southern Atlantic States, from
Maryland to Georgia. In the Gulf
States few counties have made the ex-
pertinent In some states only frac-
ton OF l per cent. of farm lands are
underdrained. In the remainder
scarcely more than or 2 per cent. of
farms, except in half a dozen nam ed
above has been improved by drainage.
1t will be inexpedient to indicate pre-
cisely the area so improved at the pres
ent time.
AS to material, drain tile is most
used. Stone is largely employed in
New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia and
Ohio. Plank is used more or less
throughout the country, especially in
Virginia, North Carolina and Ohio.
Poles are the principal material in Vir-
ginia, North Carolina and Georgia. In
twenty-five counties of twelve different
states mole-plowing drainage is in use
to some extent.
The testimony of the increased pro-
duction and profit of understanding is
emphatic and general. 1t may be dit
ticult to give the real average profit re-
sulting from adequate drainage, nor is
it essential to know the exact per cent.
when all declare, from their experience
and observation, that the increase is
universal and sufficiently large to make
the expenditure very profitable in
vestment. The average opinion of cor
respondents is that about forty-fige per
cent. increase of production is obtained
rs the result of thorough underdrain-
ing.
1t is true that much of the draining
done thus far is upon the wetest lands,
necessarily making the average esti-
mates of profits high. Yet those who
have drained the clays and compare
lively heavy soils find very positive
gain in yield, smaller percentage, per.
haps, but sufficient TO make the invest
meLt advisable.
In the tide-water region of Virginia
great increase of crops is reported from
the use of pine poles in Undertaking.
1t is claimed in Williams county, Ohio,
that the increase of the crop will pay
the cost of draining in one season.
In Franklin county, where tile is main
ly used, farms that were before unpro-
ductive have become the most produc-
tive in the county.
| In Bay county, Michigan, drains are
mostly Of two-inch plank, made like
the letter V. Nearly half OF Saginaw
county is drained, with great advantage
to the owners. In Livingston most of
the drained land was before entirely
worthless.
The best lands in Franklin county,
Indiana, are declared to be swamps
that have been drained. In Madison
ditch companies are organized by law
for the construction OF open di'ches,
which act as mains for tile-drains.
Our chief correspondent for Parke
county says that tile-draining has been
worth millions to Indiana.
The correspondent Of Fayette, ILL.,,
says that farmers are just beginning to
realize the fac: that tile-d.aining will
pay. Great interest is manifested in
Brown county, and new tile factory
established at the county seat. The
Warren county wet lands that have
been drained yield more than any of
the best dry soils. In Putnam the
drained lands, now the best, we're for
merly almost worthless. Pole and
brush drains in Kankakee, after three
years use, are still working well. No
rural improvement in Stark county has
ever equaled tile-draining IN import
ance. 1t is becoming general in Coles.
No investment pays 80 well in Fulton
as tile draining. Such is the tenor of
remarks of other Illinois correspond
ens.