The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1895-01-18
CHE 9eitlofrat.
UNDERSTANDING for Farm and Gar
den.

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UNDERTAKING. for Farm and Gar
den.
The whole question of benefits derived
ton tile drainage is due to three import
ant factors that go to make up the life.
heal h and growth of all our cultivated
crops. When these three are told, the
whole secret of success in drainage is ex-
posed.
F,t>t-The drainage relieves the soil OF
all surplus water.
Sscond In time Of drouth, # supplies
II nesded moisture.
I rd-It forms subterranean passages
rough which and by which the soil is ae-
ed
Ali of our cultivated crops are sure to SUI
fer. either from an overabundanee of moist
ure, fJom lsck OF moisture, or from lack
OF air
By the damage you get rid of one and
supply the :other two. My observation
during the last fifteen years that l have
given some thought to tile drainage is, that
without exception, each year our farm crops
have been shortened on account OF the pres.
ence or lack of the presence of one of those
three factors. Any soil that viii. hold the
water until it injuries or destroys the life OF
plant, will also, in time Of droath become
baked aud hard, so as to injese the growth
OF plant. No air can enter such sci
when full of water neither can itenter when
it becomes baked and hard. There is but
iistie virtue or plant food Ia a dry clod
or baked soil. In clay soils not UNDER
drained We are working at a disadvantage
and loss, caused by either Of the extremes,
too wet or Too dry.
The uRly way TO bring our clay lands un-
ierlaid with stiff clay, under the entire
control of the farmer or gardener is to tile
drain.
When these lands are properly drained,
they become our mos; reliable and desirable
lands; every load Of manure put on such
iani produces an effect until literally worn
oat-,here will be no teaching as is COM
mon to lands underlaid with sand or gravel.
The advantages of tile drainage are not q
question of opinion, theory or doubt, the ex
perisnce of a century proves that drain tile
is the best improvement farmer can put
on his premises. Ii deepens the SOIL i'm
proves its mechanical texture, and prepares
it for The roots of growing crops 1t length
ems the season at both ends; it renders the
soil1i for cultivation earlier in the spring,
and. by keeping it dry, wards off the effects
of frost later in the fall.
Our seasons and the weather of late are
inclined to goao extremes. When it is wetii
is TOO wet, and when ii is dry it is loo dry
scarcely ever just right for the farmer
whose land Is not drsined, he is in con-
stans worry, he breads % see the second
rain cloud approach, as he we'll knows
ano,her heavy rain means q week Or ter
days out of the corn h=ld, and the weeds
soon 10 be his master,
If you waDs to see n happy, prosperous
farmer, look for one whose farm is we'll IN
derdrained. be h1s no complaint Of the sea
son or the weather.. scarcely ever expsrien
ces any inconvience from too much rain, b.
IS delighted to see the pearly drops course
thrir way downward. laden with The eie-
ments of plant food to be deposited in tn
soil il its downward course to the Tile.
Ar, vapor, light and heat are furnishes
US free in abundance. II our soil is not il
a condition to utilize these elements TO ih
bes, advantage in our growing crops, then
IS left for US 10 make it so BY artificial means
Moisture stored awayin any subsoil
naturally drawn to The surface of The soil i
dry seasons and through vaat number {
minute pores IT passes up and into The st
mosphere quite rapidly. This is eomn.onl
spoken of as eyo-atiou. Ii can Be arr>ste
By filling the pores with particles of sol
which is done by breaking the crust on th
surface, and then evaporation is suspsniet
For this reason we hear the oft repeate
Injunction: Stir the soil as soon after raj
as ihz ground viii permit.
II wesee plant whose foliage turns ye
ley or drops of, or WHICH fails to grow, an
whoee whole appearance is unthifty We Al
almost sure % find the trouble 10 be the roo
and 90; unirequently ihe cause is want
drainage.
The distance between drairs depends c
the depth, to great extent. In clay soil
three feet Is good average depth, and &
ordiEary farm drainage may be put "
rods apart. In black, loamy soils, with ella
srbsoil vel down, they may be forty
fifty feet apart
Drainage for the garden. "WeIl, WI
shall say? This is the Eden of Il
household, to this We look for our dai
table supply. If you want the richest al
best, if you want it crisp and juicy. if yc
want it to respond TO the touch OF Il
gardener, treat it as your friend, give it
your best, feed it and it will feed you, d
fen1 it from its greatest enemy-water, "a
minister to it when it cries out for mois
ure and air. But how shall I accompIi
this?
Perfect cultivation is good, in fact it
indispensable, but perfect tiiiage cannot
done In a wet and water-saaked sol
Drainage for early vegetables is indispe
sable. Therefore, 10 ob.ain the best r
suits, we would say, pus in your drains n
more than sixteen feet apart.-From a p
per by E w Eyerai, read bsfo1e the Colur
bus Hort. Society.
The Pore recently gave orders for 4
construction Of his tomb. Professor Lu
chetti is TO attend to the architectural pal
and Eugenic Maceagni will be the sculptc
Tne tomb will BE in the basiiics, Santa Nj
ria Msggiore P.us VI was The last Poi