Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1896-12-03
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ABOUT uNDERDRAININa.

iect-Proper Siae Of Tiles,
The depth and distance apart that
drains should be dug depends upon the
character and structure Of the soil. Be
cause a certain depth and distance
auart has given satisfactory results
in one locality and with one kind OF
SOIL it does not follow, as is sometimes
supposed, that the same treatment will
give equally good results in soils of q
INHERENT character. The readiness and
rapidity with which soils drain depend
mon the fineness and compactness of
the soil particles composing them. If
the material to be drained were coarse
sand single drain might have IN
effect for several hundred feet on each
side of it, whereas If it were close clay
Of certain kinds the effect Of the drain
would reach perhaps only fifteen feet
on each SIDE Hence it follows that
only close observation will furnish the
means Of determining the lateral dis
lance apart at which it is proper to
place drains. Dig hole in the ground
when the soil is saturated and observe
how rapidly the water fills it. Note
the effect which any newly dug open
ditch or natural drain has upon the
adjacent soil. If these fill very slowly,
the drains must be placed somewhat
near, perhaps not more than thirty or
forty feet apart. On the other hand,
drains may be placed fifty, eighty, one
apart in some soils, and the effect be all
that is desired.
The thoroughness and rapidity of
the drainage desired are also points
to be taken into account in determining
what distance the drains should be
apart Ordinary field crops will bear
slower soil drainage than would be
desirable for high class gardening.
The depth at which it Is profitable to
place the drains is also contingent
Upon the character Of soil treated,
though it may be stated, as a general
rule, that lateral drains should be three
feet deep. There are, however, many
soils which may be drained four feet
deep. Orchards and fruit gardens
should be drained to this depth, while
there are soils underlaid with hard
pan, containing in themselves no fer
tilty in which care should be taken
to locate the drains as near as possi-
BILE on the line separating the soil prop
er and the clay. II the soil is open,
50 that water percolates freely through
it, the depth may be increased and
the distance apart increased proper
tionally.
The tiles used should be circular in
form, straight, and, above all, well
burned. They need not be vitrifed to
be lasting, but whatever kind of clay
ts used in making them every particle
should be completely burned; the tile
is then indestructible N earth and
water. But where exposed to long
continued freezing and thawing, as
at the eutfalls, the best vitrified pipe
should be used. After one has become
familiar with the ware of particular
readily distinguished by their color and
by their ring when struck with a piece
Of STEEL
The proper size Of tiles to be used
In the construction of drains is matter
upon which there is great difference
OF opinion and accordingly of prac-
tice. 1t is doubtful If there is any part
OF the work requiring more careful
consideration than this. An artificial
system Of drainage sometimes fails
IN removing the water, not because
they are not located. properly or not
properly laid, or because the texture
OF the soil is such as to prevent the
ready access of the water to the tiles.
There are several matters to be con-
eldered in determining the size of tiles
that should be used, especially for
mains to drainage system: 1. What
depth Of water per acre will it be neces-
sary to remove from the land in
given time, say twenty -four hours, in
order to secure the required drainage?
= How rapidly will the water be
brought to the main drains? 8. What
surface drainage does the tract have
that will be available for carrying
more than ordinary transforms? TAX
ing into account these contingencies,
what should be the size of the main
drains, considering the grade upon
winch 1t is proposed to lay them?
AS to the first question, it may be
ans that there are times during
tne growing season when the entire or
binary rainfall will be taken up by the
SOIL. At other times when the rain
1ail is frequent and heavy and the
soil becomes filled with water, it may
De necessary to remove large part Of
Wnat falls in twenty-four hours. There
are times when the rainfall is SO heavy
.hat the water cannot pass through the
soA fast enough, even IL the drains
are sufficiently large to admit Of it, but
part must run of the surface by it's
various depressions and channels, and
these it is always well to provide.
III the main drains have the capacity
10 remove one-half inch. in depth of
water from the entire tract in twenty
Tour Tour hours, they afford what may be
regarded as good farm drainage; for
even one-fourth or one-third Of an inch
~ that time is the limit of the capacity
OF many Of the drains on our well i'm
proved alluvial soils. The soil is
great reservoir, and will hold from %
70 ~ per cent Of it's volume of water.
IN localities where no advantage can
De taken of surface flow for relief in
. .,lhes OF very heavy rainfall the mains
enouid be SO constructed as to carry off
one inch in twentyfour hours.
rof lateral drains no smaller than
esnree-inch tiles should be used. and
h tor open soils, where the lines may
oe placed 100 feet or more apart, no
"nlailer than four-inch tiles to be used.
M q. Elliott In Farmers, Bulletin.