, 1891-12-02

tain the moisture IN Cne SOIL, Is To pOSSloie
that anybody. can entertain and support
the idea of underground drainage?
Yes! I think that all Intelligent planters
will understand, that the only way bv which
we can make our soil absorb and retain the
moisture that comes to us from the clouds,
is by:keeping our soil porous; and by no me-
chanical operation can this be so effectively
and permanently done, rs by underground
drainage the only serious objection to this
operation, is the expense; the planter, who
has courage to go in for underground drain
age, must be prepared to buy bis fields over
again.
Let us consider the advantages which we,
from other places learn are claimed for this
extraordinary Improvement in deep Gull
tivation.
We need not speak about the retaining
of salt marches, pond-land or the draining
of vertically wet fields, the advantages to be
gained there are evident, if only the land
has real value. But let US consider land
already nnder cultivation and which al
. ready gives to the Owner a fair return, how
will draining improve this land aud cause it
to yield still more?
We have all noticed that even the best
field on a. sugar estate has its draw.ba cks.
In excessively wet weather there are days,
anu 6OM0GkAUQS WCOA0S u N.OROkOVAOA0
must be stopped, and delay in the ~cultiva-
ton is thereby caused againin excessively
dry weather this same field shows some very
large cracks, caused by, quick drying of the
clayey subsOil, which recent heavy rains
had packed together; these two draw
backs, the one caused by tOD much mois-
ture, and the other by dry weather, under
ground draining will counterfeit in the fol-
lowing manner.
!. BY underground drainage we lower the
top of saturatiOu, the wGter table of the field
under operation. The underground matter
which, at some rainy seasons, will be only
one or two feet below the surface, is sunk
or caused to sink to q level with the under
ground conduits, and these, once placed
there, say four feet deep, will always cause
even the heaviest rain to sink at once into
the earth, this will absorb what it requires
and the rest will escape through the drains;
air will follow after, and we know, that
where air and water operate hand III hand
no dormant state of things can exist, but by
their combined action, inorganic aS we'll us
organic matters, must undergo changes, and
are in this way prepared "a food fol the
plants. No packing of the subsoil can take
place and consequently no crack will ap-
pear.
In Il we'll drained field the surface of the
soil can receive tllling at any time, IN dry
weather the porous soil will admit the at
mosphere, this will be forced to leave it's
moisture, which will be t ken up by the
plants, room is made for more air and so on
is the renewing of the fertilizing elements
continually going on. 49,
We'll drained soil can absorb or hold
transcription, one-fourth part Of its volume
of moisturt; that means four-inches of soil
will hold in absorption one-inch of water; in
the sam way, ~four-feet of drained soil will
be able to; receive and absorb twelve-inches,
or 90 lines, ,of rain, which is more than is
generally known to have, fallen in Santa
Cruz daring "a hours. s. -
Any fell whers water collects in a hole
trial pitt sunk or dug 4 feetdeep (even in q
wet season. requires draining. And any
field in which the soil shows wide cracks,
even in the. driest season, also requires
draining. I
IA A wet soil is not fertile; 1t is true, that the
particles of earth must. be moist, but they
must be surrounded with air and not with
water. Give a wet field an outlet A feet be-
low the surface and it will soon be relieved
of the superduous water aud its space will
be occupied by air; having the surplus
water removed, through the underground
outlets, evaporation is avoided, hence no
thick crust can be formed on the surface and
the ready access of atmosphere is never
stopped. bsSk