The Kosciusko star. (Kosciusko, Miss.) 18??-1898, 1895-11-08
Tile Draining.

cost and effects of tile drains As ths
matter is one which seems to be attract
ing increased attention, we give the fol
lowing somewhat lengthy record OF The
work which has been done in that line
at the Station:
The first field in which tile was laid
was creek bottom of which the upper
soil was composed almost wholly oil
washings from the adjacent hills, while
the subsoil was very heavy, waxey
black soil, which was SO retentive OF
water that it was impossible to work
the land until very late in the spring.
The surface soil crusted quickly and
often this crust would become 50 hard
that mule could walk over it in somo
places, but would occasionally break
through the crust into foot or more OF
mud. On such soil OF course it was
impossible TO secure full stand of
plants or to do satisfactory cultivation.
The field was planted to corn in 1888,
and although it had received heavy
application OF stable manure, Welded
only twenty-five bushels per acre. Tile
was laid in the spring of 1889, the dis
tance between the drains being from
forty to fifty feet and the average depth
three and one-half feet. During that
year but little improvement was seen in
the condition of the field, but in the
spring Of 1890 the effect of the drains
was very apparent in the bothered con-
dition of the soil, which was dry enough
for working fully two weeks earlier
than in previous years. The wet "sour"
spots had entirely disappeared, tho soil
was more easily worked than ever be.
fore, and full stand Of cotton was SO.
cured without trouble. The improve
ment in the condition of the soil has
continued up to this time, and the field
is now ono OF the most easily managed
on the place.
In 1891 tile was laid in field of black
prairie soil, which bad been in cotton
the previous season, when it yielded
only one hundred and thirty-six pounds
OF lint per acre. In 1892 the field was
sowed in wheat, which grew well, was
unusually free from rust, and which
made an average yield Of nearly twenty
bushels per acre. In the spring of 1893,
two years after laying the tile, the
ground became dry enough for working
as early as was rich sandy loan in an
adjoining field, and was planted with
corn on March II, when the soil was
dry and in excellent condition for work.
The field received an application of i've
hundred pounds OF kainit per acre,
which was spread broadcast and har-
rowed in on the day before the corn was
planted. A perfect stand was secured,
and at no time during the season did
the ground remain wet so long that cul-
tivasion could not be given whenever
needed, and the yield was sixty-two
and one-third bushels Of shelled corn
per acre. The corn was gathered in
August, and the stalks hauled off, after
which the field was plowed and sowed
to red clover on August rs. The clover
also made full stand and made over
three tons per acre, and the soil in that
Held is now as mellow and as easily
worked as any on the farm.
The third field in which tile was laid
was stiff yellow clay underlaid with
an almost impervious hard pan" which
kept water standing in every depres-
sion during the spring and after heavy
rains, while crops suffered severely
from even short drouths. Tile was laid
through the field in 1890, the line.
being from fifty to sixty feet apart and
care being taken to have them run
through the depressions and the places
where the hard pan came nearest the
surface. This field is near the barn and
FOR many years it had received liberal
supplies of stable manure, but had
never produced satisfactory crops from
the fact that it was so hard that it could
be plowed only four or five inches deep.
it was never in condition for working
until very late in the season, and drouth
affected it more severely than than any
other land on the place. During the
four seasons since the tile was laid
there has been constant Improvement
in the condition Of the field. Each sea-
son it has been worked earlier in the
spring, has been plowed deeper, has suf-
fered less from drouth, is ready to work
very soon after heavy rains.
Another field in which tile was laid |
vas long creek bottom with a rich
sandy loan soil, which was kept very
wet until late in tho season by the
seep'hg Of water from the al iacent wet
LAY bills, in which there were several
wet weather springs. The only drain
age needed for this field was to cut off
he seep water from the hills, which
vas accomplished by running single
inc of tile at the foot of the hill and
parallel with it to catch and carry or
he soep water which would otherwise
rave To soak throuph thn lpvnl lnpd a.