The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1892-08-25

Farm DRAfNAGE.
The science of agriculture Illus
trates many astonishing facts, ana
the entire secret consists Of nothing
more nor less than the presentation,
I'm o changed form, of those chemical
constituents already present in the
soil which receives il all from the
atmosphere aud its influences. Now
II by any means whatsoever we can
bring to bear a combination Of those
influences that will retard the I'M
desirable and accelerate the desiI lie
chemical secretions, we not only
hasten maturity and cheaper the
product, but improve the quality oil
everything raised, and this is pre-
cisely what Is done by the applica-
ton OF fertilizers and the use OF all
modern improved appliances for
manipulation of the soil, etc.
In the hurry and hustle which
characteriZes the present age, many
Of the more humble ways OF ac-
complishing these ends have been
forgotten or overlooked, and none
more so than the subject of draining.
am satisfied from the results of
soil analysis aud practical observa-
ton, that understanding will inn
prove 80 per cent Of the land now
under cultivation in the entire coun-
try, and fully One-half will more
than pay for the expense OF doing
the work systematically and thor
oughly. In some instances the past
season draining more than paid for
itself at the first harvest. BY drain
ing we deepen the soil, obtaining the
gasses essential to plant growth
from new and untried sources,
lengthen the season for labor and
vegetation, preclude the necessity to
replanting. prevent the freezing out
Of winter crops, promote the ab-
sorption Of fertilizers, supply air to
the roots Of plants, improve the
quality and quantity of the crops,
and make us secure, in measure,
against the ravages and devastating
Influences of drOuths. These are
facts at the present time beyond de-
bate and are carefully cOrrOborated
by multiplied experiments in nearly
every section of the United States.
The lesson this teaches every farmer
is, drain your wet lands.
The best of all materials for drains
IL the round pipe tile. Sole tile is
more expensive, as well a. more diff
ficult to lay, and Judging from per-
sonal experience, IL not so good as
the round or pipe tile in any re-
spect. Some claim that this tile
must be provided with a collar at
the joints, but ! do not deem this
necessary, and have mine all laid by
putting thin piece of board under
and a strip of turf over each Joint.
These serve to steady and hold in
place until its position has been Sc
cured. In those few isolated locali-
ties where tiles are scarce and high,
and stone is plenty, resort may he
had to stone drains. These, il prop
erly constructed, answer a very
good purpose, some even preferring
them to tile.
There are quite a number uf places
In this country where peat is plenty
and can he had for the digging, in
which event good tile can he made
u. DhI
for the making, and open drains,
generally speaking, are a disadvant-
age rather than an improvement. as
the expense of digging is the same,
they occupy wide area OF land
render farm operations difficult, af-
ford harbor for muskrats and other
pests, are liable tn be trOd in, and
prove pitfalls for cattle, promote the
rrfh nf ronE
weeds, necessitating digging them
over every year.
Some farmers make a mistake in
digging too deep. Drains, of what
ever material made, should never,
particularly in the Northern States,
be over feet. This places them be-
low freezing, which is all that is
necessary. or course, farther South,
where the liability TO freeze de-
creases, the bitches may be more
shallow.
am often asked what lands may
be improved by draining. How to
determine this is a question answer
able before going any further. Evil
IDENTIFY swamps, marshes and all
visibly vet lands require draining
before they can be cultivated profit
ably. All high lands holding too
much water at any season OF the
year need draining. Most useful
plants are ruined or drowned by
being overflowed, even for a short
time, and injured by stagnant water
about their roots. Lands I'm which
planting is delayed in the spring by
reason OF their wetness require drain
ing. In the Northern States nearly
two weeks may be gained by thor
ough drainage, an advantage which
only those can appreciate who have
been obliged to haul their manure
over soft ground, pillow their land
when too wet, and then find the
season too short to mature their
crops, and all because of q surplus
Of cold water in the soil. Land on
which water stands and freezes in
the winter should be drained. In
each and every instance like the
foregoing il will pay well to drain.
In addition to this there are very
few lands but will be decidedly i'm
proved by draining; the first ex-
pense is all the expense, and IL IL q
permanent investment. A brush
drain will last ten or fifteen years, q
well-laid stone drain half q century,
and there Is no reason why q we'll
laid, perfect tile drain should not
last 100 years or more. and during all
this time crops are improved both in
quantity and quality.
A distinction can be made, how
ever, In view of the crops to be
raised, as land that Is too wet for
root or rain crops may do admirably
for grass, maintaining their fertility
by top-draining or by occasional
blowing and reseeding in the fall. |
The indications Of too much moisture |
are, In grass, the growth of rushes |
NhIlApAss Rprs HAs