The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1883-10-06
Agricultural.
What Lands Need Drainage.

What Lands Need Drainage.
All lands that contain more WAFER
than is needed by the crops growing upon
them. If you intend to raise corn or
wheat the land will need more draining
than if intended for grass. Even grass
lands need not be very wet, as, if too
wet, the growth of aquatic plants and
grasses takes the place Of the cultivated
grasses and ruins the hay and pastures.
Loose, porous soils, underlaid by
sand or gravel, are drained by nature
but all land that is underlaid by clay,
rock Of other impervious material needs
draining.
What is to be gained by underdrain-
agep The surface of the water in the
soil is lowered. The roots of cereals
and grasses may penetrate as far as to
the surface of the water, but never
into it. 1t is necessary to draw the
water off to such depth as will give
the roots of growing crops plenty of
room to reach downward for that nour-
ishment that is necessary to their
growth. If the water is only one foot
from the amount of soil from which to
gather nourishment, with the disadvan-
tage of having their feet wet by capil-
larry attraction. Only aquatic plants
grow well with their feet in the water.
The lowering the water below the
surface prevents large amount of
evaporation, and its effect in cooling
the soil. The water being removed,
air and warmth are admitted to the
soil.
Drained lands are for this reason
ready for planting least one week
earlier in the spring. The growth of
crops is quickened through the summer
by the increased temperature of the soil,
which amount to several degrees, and
the injurious effects of early frosts are
prevented in the same manner. Crops
are therefore given an increased period
in which TO make their growth of at
least two weeks. This is certainly a
very important gain. -FarperS' Nigga
zine. 81 81 b u % ~
Leaohed Wood Ashes.
| Ashes fresh from the stove or fur.
mace, contain all the mineral constitu,
ents necessary for plant growth, and
are, therefore, very valuable as fertil
izer to a worn out or naturally pool
soil. A large part of the potash is re
covered from ashes in teaching, and a.
this constituent is leading one, leachet
ashes ale of less value as plant thar
when fresh. The owner should save, il
asecure place ;all the ashes made, anC
apply them to the land in the spring.
top'dressing of twenty bushels per acr,
/ to mold pasture or meadow will Civ,
! good returns for several years. Tn,
, leaohed ashes should be disposed of il
the same manner, only they may b,
applied at the rate of 100 bushels De
acre.
, Leached ashes have been bought ant
) used for many years by farmers ant
) gardeners on Long Island and near tn
shore towns in Connecticut. Thes
, ashes are brought mainly from Canada
) Ashes are especially good for Tobacco
3 land, and onion raisers find them profit
8 able. 1t has been observed that wher
this fertilizer has been introduced,
retains its hold upon the confidence o
b those who use it. Fruit growers ar
a glad to get leached ashes for their SINAI
S fruit gardens, and even orchards @
y large trees are much benefited by them
T Save all the ashes, leached or un
: leAched, and if there is a good opportur
a ity, buy and apply them.-America
e AgriculturiSt. DOH,
. Corn for Sitting Hens.
: 1t is claimed that corn is the mos
: suitable food for sitters. The require
I ments of sitter differ from those c
) other hens Keeping quiet and witt
out much exercise, not much is require
: to sustain life, and their food should /
= of such nature as to digest SLOWLY
. For this reason whole grain is preferre
and corn is thought to be much tn
. best. Soft food of any kind is 500
u digested, the hen becomes hungry. an
o either leaves the nest too frequently {
e becomes very poor. The advantage {
II corn over other grain is that it is moi
IL oily and not so likely to stimulate I'll
. production of eggs, and, being har
: and compact, is digested much slowt
: than other grain. .,..
Farm Notes.
Experiments have proved th;
musty meal is not wholesome food fl
any of the domestic animals. Disea.
y and death have been directly traced [
10 its use. When fed to poultry, chicke
cholera or some disease resembling
(, was the result. Cows to which it W;
J. fed gave bitter milk, and ceased
II thrive as well as those in the same pa
ture which had no grain. Swine fe
l. upon it failed to grow or fatten. On
t, horses were not injured by it, and the
y escaped because they would not eat it,.
The London LiUe Stock JournC
III states that diphtheria among fow