The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1883-07-14

swamps IN fact all soils whore the follow
ing plants, which may be called
WET WEATHER PLANTS,
flourish. Some OF the many OF these are
spearmlnt cursed and bristly crowfoot,
marsh marigold, marsh cress, cuckoo flow.
or, pale and spotted touch.me.not, poison
sumach, swamp rose, loOsestrife, water
purslane, COW parsnip, COW bane, water
hemlOck, poison hemlock, button bush,
golden rod, tick seed, sunflower, cardinal
flower, great lobelis, brooklime, knotweed,
swamp and green dock. arrow head, great
purple orchis, lady slipper (cypripedtum),
blue flag, blue-eyed grass, white hyacinth,
wild yellow lily. spike rush, club rush,
wool grass, cotton grass, white grass, water
fOxtall, blue JOINT grass, water cord grass,
mama grass, vanilla grass, reed canary
grass, millet grass (millium e1usum), and
Indian grass. Many other plants might
be named, but this Is sufficient 10 show the
wet land plants Of variety of situations.
So far as timber land Ia concerned, the
soils indicating need Of draining are those
where hemlock, swamp and water oak,
beech, sometimes maple, ash, elm, and all
that class of treess and shrubs natural TO
such soils, will show the need Of drainage.
6. Springy places. These should be
drained at least so as to cut oil the supply
Of water from ssturating lower portions OF
field.
Z. Sandy or other porous soils resting
on stiff clsy near the surface. These are
among the most valuable of soils when not
sodden with water. Undrained they are
cold, weedy and unserviceable once care
fully drained, they often become the most
fertile as they are the most easily worked,
OF soils.
S. All clayey and impervious soils.
The object here is to quickly liberate the
water of satu-ation, either that fiom ram,
or that slowly passing up from below-for
the word lmpervious is used comparative
ly-snce no soil is absolutely impervious,
and stiff clays, under the action Of thorough
drainage, gradually become placable, fria-
bic and of the most lasting fertility.
The late John H. Kllppart, one who
united practical knowledge to an active,
observing mind, in chapter ON soils and
their properties, discusses the advantages
OF understanding, so far as theory mot
hypothesis) in Its proper sense is suscept-
ible OF demonstration, and asserts the fol
loving twelve propositions:
/. That drainage removes stagnant
waters from the surface.
2. 1t removes surplus water from under
the surface. ...
3. 1t lengthens the seasons.
4. 1t deepens the SOIL
5. 1t warns the soil.
6. II equallzes the temperature of the
soil during the season of growth.
Z. 1t carries down soluble substances to
the roots OF plants
8. prevents "heavlng out" or "freez-
ing out"
8. /. prevents injury from drouth.
10. ItImproves the quality and quanti-
ty of the crop.
II. 1t increases the effects OF manures
IL. 1t prevents rust IN wheat and rot IN
potatoes.
While this is all correct as q rule, rs ap
plying to soil, it is none the less true that
1t applies only to soils requiring drainage
and good and safe rule as to whether a
soil really does require drainage Is, that it
does not come into condition for working
soon after heavy rains If soil does not
free itself perfectly from the plowshare
and fall friably theretrom in blowing
within forty eight hours after a saturatlng
rain, it requires draining to reach the most
economical results IN tillage. The only
question then to be decided Is whether the
crops to be cultivated will pay the interest
on the sum invested. There is really but
little land IN the west, comparatively
speaking, but would be better tor drain
ing.-"Ampere' IN BREEDERS Gazette.