The Portland daily press., 1892-04-09
DRAINAGE BY FLOWING.

How to Multiply the Effect of the Pillow
on the Moisture of the Soil.
By keeping the desired point in view
in blowing, and blowing accordingly,
We may multiply the effect of the plow
on the moisture in the soil, either to re-
duce or increase the amount. John M
Stahl, progressive Illinois farmer, tells
in The American Agriculturist how to
do it. He says:
IF there is an excess, then we are to
plow in such way as to favor the es-
cape of the water. The most convenient
method of blowing is to plow around the
outside of the field or of the land. But
on fat land this method is suicidal. It
makes, in time, a ridge around the mar
gin of the field, damming the water on
the field. If we divide such land into
narrow lands and begin in the center,
throwing the furrow in, the water not
only can, but since it must run down
hill it must drain to the bitches along
the fields. On fiat land there is no
danger of gullies by making the land
furrow at the same place each year. On
land more rolling, gullies may be avoid
ed by moving the land furrow little to
either side each year; this is easily done
by making the outside lands narrower
or wider.
Hilly fields, frequently having light
soil, should be plowed in the opposite
way. They are apt to lack moisture,
because the water SO readily and rapidly
flows off that much Of it does not sink
into the soil; and the upper parts Of the
hills, at least, are usually far above the
influence Of the ground water. In plow-
ing such fields we must also consider
their aptness to wash and gully, es-
pecially when they are in cultivated
crops. It is hard to keep these fields up,
because of the carrying away of the SOIL
If in blowing we throw the furrow out
each year, we soon have an embank-
ment around the margin. This will
break the force of the currents from the
higher ground, retard the flow of the
water, and thus give it more time tosink
into the soil. The embankment will
also soon catch the greater part of the
SOIL DIOuSub uOWu lIOLu dUOVo, dllu Wy
this As will be increased in extent
and effectiveness. Instead of the soil
being carried off the field and lost, it is
deposited on an ever widening strip. This
strip, thus fertilized from above, will
not need manure; and twice the former
amount may be applied to the higher
ground. Thus this higher ground also
will be enriched, and for the further
reason that the wash from it is less.
1t is desirable that the burrows should
run up and down the hill, although some
prefer the opposite. But the water will
cut across the burrows and make deeper
gullies than when each furrow affords
an exit for the comparatively small
amount falling on it. 1t may be neces-
sary, therefore, to pillow each year a head
land along the foot of the hill. To hold
the embankment well in place, seed the
margin-the fence row or the bank of
the stream-well to grass. The sod will
hold firm, and the grass will catch much
of the soil brought over. 1t is apparent
that by SO blowing the foot of the in
cline is being constantly raised, bring
ing the land nearer to a level and hence
more favorable to an ample supply of
moisture in the soil; while the loss from
washing and outlying is greatly re-
duced.