The southern sentinel. (Winnfield, La.) 1883-1910, 1885-10-16
UNDERTAKING..


Upon Manurcs.
I. Itprevents drought
2. 1t furnishes an increased supply oil
atmospheric fertilizers.
5. 1t warns the lower portions of the
soil.
4. 1t accelerates the disintergration
of the mineral matters in the soil.
5. 1t causes q more even distribution
Of nutritious matter among those parts
Of the soil traversed BY roots.
6. It improves the mechanical text.
ure of the soil.
z. 1t causes the poisonous excremen-
titious matters of plants to be carried
out of reach of their roots.
8. 1t prevents the grasses from run
ming out
9. 1t enables the surface soil to be
deepened by removing excess of water.
10. 1t renders soil tillable earlier in
the spring.
II. 1t prevents the throwing out of
grain in the winter.
IL. 1t allows work TO be done sooner
after rains.
Is. 1t keeps off the effect of cold
weather longer in the fall.
IA. 1t prevents the formation of
acetic and other acids. which induce
the growth of sorrel and other weeds
Is. 1t prevents, in great measure.
the evaporation of water. and the
consequent abstraction of heat from the
soil.
16. It admits fresh quantities OF
water from rains, etc.. which are al
ways more or less imbued with the fer
tilizing gases of the atmosphere, to be
deposited among the absorbent parts
of soil. and given up to the necessities
of plants.
II. 1t prevents the formation of so
hard crust on the surface of the soil
as is customary on heavy lands.
1S. 1t prevents in a great measure
grass and winter grains from being
winter killed.
The first care of the farmer. that on
which the success of his future crops
almost entirely depends. is the removal
of unnecessary supplies of water
whether arising from the tenaeity of
the surface retaining too much. or from
springs exuding from the surface. For
it is evident that as different crops re.
quire very varying quantities. so the
cultivator must adapt the moisture OF
the soil to the crops he proposes to
produce; the supply which IS nee
cessary. for instance. for the
profitable growth of the rice
plants, would destroy the grasses; and.
again. the damp soils. which are so
favorable to the growth of grasses.
would be much too moist for the cereal
crops. The nature of the climate. the
soil and the sub-soil must all be taken
into account The plants growing on
sandy soils. of course. will bear a much
larger proportion of water than those
on clay soils. Under drains
vary in depth from two and
one-half feet to four feet and in
peat soils, on account of the very
material settling which takes place
as they are Brought into cul-
tivat on, from this to six or seven feet
The first operation necessary upon .
field intended to be drained is the ex-
OF the strata. or veins of
earth. of which it Is composed. and
this is commonly effected with the bor-
ing anger. or by digging small pits or
open drains. as by this means the o0z-
ings or wee, ings VIII speedily display
and indicate pretty COR
rectly the source from whence the
of water proceeds
Tbs being ascer. aimed the direction of
The under drains W II be the more easily
decided. II the soil is of such . de-
script'o on that the subsol plow can be
used with advantage. then the tops Of
The stones, bricks or tiles by which the
drain is formed and preserved. should
not be less than two and one-half feet
rom the surface Of the soil
In the formation of these drains the
workman always commences at the
lowest extremity; by this means. be-
'ides other advantages. the water as
10 arrives at it drains away from him.
Ind shows him, BY its escape that he
8 preserving proper fall. When the |
Train is cut to the proper depth it is
lied up with the materials through
VII Oh the drainage waters are to flow
% with such distance only as is GIT |
II reach Of the pillow, and Their the |
Earth is shoveled back again OYER the |
lrainage materials.
Draining not only deepens the soil. |
,ut largely increases fs.e effect of the |
application of manusas. Every farmer
nay have notices. the difference re-
ulting from fsrtili,ing material ap-
lied alike to q single field, without |
,eing able to satisfy himself as to the
ause >0f that difference, This varia- |