The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1886-09-24
FARM TOPICS.
How Un,Icrdrains secure Moisture for
Soils During Seasons of Protracted
Drought.
Ravascs of the Cutworm-Thinning Fruit
August lsuttcr--Thc Pansy BED.
DRAINAGE AND DROUGHT

That the placing of drain-tilc several
feet below the surface ofland naturally
low and generally moist is of great
value in carrying of the water will be
readily admitted. Ii is reasonable TO
presume that such land will be greatly
benefited by providing an outlet for the
water that would otherwise be retained
by the soil till 1t could be carried of by
the slow process of evaporation. Low
lands are generally much richer than
those that are elevated. as they receive
by the constant flow of water through
and over the soil vegetable and mineral
substances that produce fertility. They
are the last portions of farm that are
ordinarily cultivated, as the cost of
draining them is greater than the new
England and middle states, but in most
of the western states and territories. the
high lands are first cultivated. There
are more days in the year that the pillow
can be used on high land than on low,
and the farmer who is improving new
place desires 10 have rs many acres in
crop us he can manage.
That undcrdrainS are of great advan-
tage to moderately high land in a wet
season is obvious. The tile carry of
most of the water Immediately after q
heavy rain and leave the soil III n con-
dition to be worked by the pillow. Land
that is tile-draincd can be plowed ear
licr in the spring than that which is not
provided with artificial passages for the
water, and the success of small grains
largely depend on early sowing. Tile
drainage is also highly beneficial to
crops that are to be cultivated during q
rainy season. Corn is more likely to
suffer from an excess than from def.
cheney of moisture in the soil. The
hoe, pillow, and cultivator can not be
used to advantage when the soil con-
tains much water. Tile drains carry
off the water from a cultivated field and
allow implements to be used among
growing crops. They insure the growth
of vegetation that would otherwise sui.
fer from excess of moisture. They are
of especial advantage to corn, where
rapid growth is promoted by Il soil tina,
is fairly dry and quite warm. Under.
drains, during wet season, not only
keep the soil sufficiently dry to allow
corn to make rapid growth, but they
have the effect of raising its tempera
turc.
That underdrains are highly benefi-
cial during seasons of protractcd
drought many persons who have never
had an opportunity to watch their Opc-
rations are inclined to doubt. Still nj
who have seen corn on drained fields
and have compared its condition with
that planted on land that was not pro-
vided with tile are prepared to give
evidence IN favor of drainage for pre-
venting the in juras that are produced
by Il protractcd drought. The prospect
is that the largest crops of corn, wheat
rye. and OATS in the west this season
will be harvested from land that is un
derdraincd. They are not suffering
from drought like crops that wcr,
planted on undrained land. The auc
tionecr who declared that the clothes h,
offered for sale would keep the wcarel
warm i'm winter and cool in summer
obviously claimed too much for them
But il is no eXaggcration To say thai
underdrains serve To keep the soil dry
i'm wet season and To Keep il moist
during the prevalence of Il very severe
drought. Seeing is believing in this
as in other matters. A visit To any por
ton of the west ut the present time vii
convince one that undcr,lrains supply
moisture to plants during very dry
weather.
During very warm weather the all
contains Il vast amount .of Invisible
#
condensed ny causing il To come in con
tact with some cold Substance, us the
outer surface OF Il pitcher filled with ice
UnderdrainS cause currents OF air u
circulate through them and to pass up.
ward through them into the soil. Az
the soil is much cooler than the mir that
passes between the particles much OF
the invisible vapor it contains Is con
densed i'm the form of dew, and is made
available for plant growth. This con
densed vapor is deposited deep in the
soil, where it will not be evaporated a.
| il would be if it was on the surface o.
the ground. 1t is within easy reach o.
the roots of the plants that are in need
of moisture The plants are waterec
| from below and not from above. They
are constantly receiving the benefit OF
an underground watering. Most per
sons have noticed that the walls of Gel.
lars through which there is Il free circu
lation of air are moist during very dry
seasons. The vapor is condensed OF
them because they are comparatively
cold. The same thing takes place wher
air passes through drains and the sol
that is above them.