Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1883-10-25


bryIand Esrmsr.
This . an important matter in both
branches Of agriculture and horticul-
tnre 10 have the ground properly drain
ed before any manure OF crops are put
in. a it is useless and a waste of both
time and money in thus trying 20 OBJ
tain anything like ; fair return for
your labor without you have soil that
is open and not caked up aa are gem
orally found for want Of proper dFain-
age. Manures are, in 9 manner.
thrown away, as this will clearly
show. by taking up piece Of low
moist ground which has been laid
waste and never before been in culsi-
vations manure one-half and put il in
the best possible order for cropping
without draining. using the same
means with the other half but per-
fectly drained without manure, plant
ed with the same kind of seed or
plants. will, on an average. prodace
far better crop. which shows that
drainage Is very important matter
in obtaining any kind Of crops, either
annual or perennial; in the planting
of trees or pot plants this should be
more generally observed, as nothing
will thrive if too much moisture is al
lowed to be at the roots Of plants, ex-
cePt they are Of an aquatic nature liv.
ing in water. Il is not wonderful
then, that the economical effects oi
drainage should be found by practical
men. to be not only diminution in
the cost OF cultivation, but consid-
eRably augmented produce also in all
crops, or that this increased produce
should alone be found sufficient 10 pay
the entire cost of drainage in few
years
The deeper the drains, provided the
water have still q ready escape, the
greater depth Of soil viii be available
for the purposes Of vegetable nutri.
tion. Deep rooted plants often fail
for want of certain depth Of soil ow.
ing to shallow drains which prevents
their decent in search Of food; plants
like wheat or clover will send their
roots deep in sub-soil to seek nourish-
ment where the sub-soil is sound and
dry. Removing the waters the soil
becomes dry to a greater depth, the air
Penetrates and diffuses itself, makes
it more porous and gives more nour.
ishment to the roots.
Deep drains permit the use Of sub
soil plows, without the charge Of in.
jury, not only less liable to DO choked
up by the accumulated roots of pla q Is
which naturally make their way into
them in search Of water, but they also
increase the value and permanent fer
tility Of the lands by increasing i'd
available depth. II is not till tbs
land is rendered dry that the skillfuI
and enterprising farmer has fail
field to expend his exertions. AL
manures are in a manner thrown
away where water is allowed TO stag.
mage or rest in the soil.
Have dry fields 10 work upon anC
the well constructed agriculturist cat
bring all the resources, as well Of med
ern science as of old experiepce, tc
bear upon them with fair chance o
success, the disappointments which
the holder Of undrained lands so otter
meets with. he will less frequently ex
perience, an adequate return will gen
orally be obtained for his expenditure
i in manuring and otherwise improvins
his soil, and he will thus be encour
aged to proceed in devoting his capi
tai to the permanent amelioration O
his farm, not less for his own benefit
but of others.
Viewed in this light, drainage i
only the first Of long series Of I'm
provements. or rather il il necessa
ry preparation 10 the numerous i'm
provements Of which the soil is sus
ceptible; it confers q national benesi
to the country, and every good citi
zen ought to exercise his influence il
endeavoring ia his own district NOR,
or less rapidly to promote it. It ha
been calculated that the drainage o
those lands which are at present 10 ar
able culture, would give an immens
increase to the already produce nov
raised. General drainage cannot b
effected in any given time. The in
dividual resources Of the land owne
are not sufficient to meet the expen
ses, only in some as to wealth, never
theless may lead TO stimulate the ex
ertions of those who have capital b
spare or such an excess Of income q
can permit them 10 invest an annua
portion permanently in the soil. No
only is this drainage, as stated. equiv
alent; but to q change Of better eli
mate and to the growth Of plants ant
crops of all kinds, besides the healtl
Of the inhabitants and to the numbe
and kind Of diseases Of which they ar,
observed TO be exposed by this drain
age, certain sections in the country
which at one time were very unheal.
thy have now been cultivated and
thickly populated.
n@-Let il be the law in your fami
ly to speak evil of no one; rejoice nol
1 - n~wbr1.,ta e.slsurw. ws1se,&.fa ,n~a a.