The Bottineau pioneer. (Bottineau, N.D.) 1885-1895, 1894-08-11

Niw that the grain and hay harvests
are about out of the way, the farmer
begins to prepare for the fall seeding
The wheat stubble, at least the greater
part of it. will be reserved for corn
next wear while those fields from which
the oats crop has just been removed
will probably be plowed and sowed to
wheat. Before blowing or while the
work is going on those who are gradual
~ improving their farms by filling a
few acres each year will find it proita-
bic to provide drainage for their fu-
ture wheat fields. The roads are now
in good condition for hauling tile and
the remainder of the labor can be per-
formed about as cheaply as at any
other time.
The objection which is sometimes Of
fered to thing in summer is that the
weather is usually hot and dry and the
chances are there will be no water in
the drains to guide the workmen.
While this is quite frequently the case
1t merely necessitates the surveying of
the various lines, although this should
be done in all cases and at all times
where accuracy is desired. and more
careful attention on the part of the
workmen. AS it is true that the soil
Is usually dry in summer it is there
fore a good time to drain ponds and
marshes which at other seasons con-
tain so much water IS to render drain
ing out of the question.
Advantages i'm Doing the Work
The ground is more easily handled
tnan In the spring or perhaps at any
other season of the year unless the SUI.
race mas become SO dry as to be ex-
ceedingly cloddy. But even when such
a condition exists the removal of the
surface layer is not SO difficult as when
frozen In winter nor so disagreeable as
When he workman is obliged to stand
In cold mud or water throughout the
entire day when thing in spring. Dur
Ing q wet spring or fall it is, almost i'm
possible to haul a load of tile into the
felds to distribute them ever though
the roads are in fair condition for bring
ing them from the factory.
Where the farmer hires men to dig
the drains paying them a certaint
amount per rod, this expense a be
considerably reduced if the work is
done when the surface is dry enough |
to plow. Following the line of stakes
set by he surveyor, plow a few fur
rows. Then with an ordinary ditching |
scraper remove the loose soil making a
ditch the width Of the scraper. Pillow
again and follow with the scraper I'M.
til the Itch has reached a depth of
several feet. This can be done in a
very short time and will leave only |
about one spade depth to be removed
by the expert tiler. Any man who can
handlea team can cut the ditch with
the scraper and even if that man has !
be hired it will be less expensive
than to have the ground removed with
the spade. By this method the cost of
digging the drains should be reduced.
ut least ore-thir1. |
After h Drains Are COMPLETED.
and the tile have been laid it is nee
essary that considerable care be taken
In COVERING thorn Thn aa~L
was taken out will very likely contain a
great quantity Of large, har clods and
if these are rolled into the ditch first
some of the tiles are liable to be in
jured or displaced. Give the tile a
covering Of fine earth nearly six inches
thick which will furnish them ample
The remainder of the fill
ing can be done by the use of plows
and scrapers. The large four-horse
graders, which are used for grading
roads in many places, have been found
excellent for this purpose.
Another advantage in thing ground
intended for wheat now. rather than
postpone it until after seeding, is that
there will be less labor lost. BY thing
after the ground has been sown and
perhaps after the wheat has come up,
a considerable portion Of the crop will
be destroyed. The farmer thus in
ours a loss not only in the seed sown
but In the crop to be harvested. The
surfaces of the drains as well as mar
row strips along the sides will bear
nothing but weeds the next spring. 1t
may be that frequently the time re-
Quired for doing the work could be
better spared after seeding than before
but on the whole the thing Of wheat
ground during this month or August |
Proves most satisfactory.-Orange Judd
Farmer. |