The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1894-08-10

NV thst the Grain and bay haryestc
ars- about cat of tho way, the farmee
begins to prepare for the IAN seeding;
re wheat stnbbla. at least the reates.
part q II. Win be reserved for corn
nsxtyear while those fields from which
de oats crop has Just been, removed
WIN probably be plowed and sowed to
wheat, Before blowing or while the
work IL going on those who are gyadunl-
" improving their farms BY. dlling q
few acres each year will md It profta.
BILE 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. AZ at any
other time. m, n,
The objection which ID sometimes Of
fered to thing In summer IL that the
weather IL usually hot and dry and the
chances are there will be no water In
the drains to guide the workmen.
While this 10 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 ia. desired, and more
careful attention on the part Of the
woEkmen. As 1t fs true that the soil
r. usually dry in summer 1t Is there
fore good time to drain ponds and
marsheS which ut other seasons con.
tain 20 much water as to render drain
ing out Of the question. -
Aavantases In Doins the Work
-, ~ Now.
The ground Is more easily handled
than In the spring or perhaps at any
other season Of the year unless the sur.
face has become 80 dry as to be ex-
ceedingiy cloddy. But even when such
q condition exists the removal Of the
surface layer is not 30 difficult as when
frozen In winter nor 80 disagreeable rs
when the workman is obliged to stand
In cold mud or water throughout the
entire day when tilIng In spring. Dur.
Ing wet spring or fall 1t is almost i'm.
possible to haul load Of tile into the
fields to distribute them even 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 can be
considerably reduced II the work is
done when the surface is dry enough
to plow. Following the line of stakcs
set by the surveyor, .plOw few fur
rows. Then with m, ordinary ditching
scraper remove the loose soil making q
ditch the width Of the scraper. Plow,
again and follow with the scraper un.
til the Itch has reached depth Of
several feet. This can be done In "a
very abort time md 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 II that man has
to be hired 1t 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-thirl. i.,... |,
After the DRAINS Are Completed.
and the tile hive been laid 1t is nee.
essary that considerable care be taken
in covering them. The ground which
was taken out will very likely contain a
great quantity Of large, har clods and
II these are rolled into the ditch first
some Of the tiles nre liable to be in.
jured or displaced. Give the tile a
covering Of fine earth nearly six inches
thick which will furnish them ample
protection. 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. M
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 tiling
sitter the. ground has been sovn and
ipeshapssAfter the wheat has come uD.
g considerable portion Of the crop viii
be destroyed. The farmer thus in.
ours loss not only in the seed sown
but In the crop to be harvested. The
surfaces Of the drains as well az mar.
row strips along the sides viii bear
nothing but weeds the next spring. II
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 neutrality-suspicious. Judd
Farmer.