The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1897-01-30
MOISTUREAND DROUGHT
Recent improvements in Water
Storage and Distribution.
USE OF RESERVOIRS GROWING.
The Importance of Under-Drainage and
Deep Flowing Well Demonstrated
in Past Seasons Of Dry
mes Other Farm
Notes.

In some sections provision is made
against drought by storing water in the
wet season for use during dry periods, and
the agricultural Department and the Ex-
perimental Stations are giving the matter
considerable attention. When water is
plentiful much of it flows away to the sea,
from which it cannot be recovered unless
from rains, which may not occur at times
when moisture is essential Reservoirs and
windmills have given excellent satisfaction
in the West, and engines and hydraulic
rams are used wherever it can be done to
advantage. The cost of applying an irri-
eating system may be great on some farms,
and very small on others, according to the
location and conformation OF the farm; but
the cost, if it can be borne, is but small
matter compared with the great increase in
the yields of crops, or even in preventing
loss, as a prolonged drought may shorten
crop as much as rs per cent One acre that
is under control, so far as pertains to mos-
ture, is of more value than four acres that
derive moisture only as it happens to come
from rains, and when the irIigating meth
DDS are fully understood and used the pro-
ductive capacity of the farms will be in
creased from twofold to tenfold, as the
control OF moisture permits of greater
variety of crops, more liberal use of fer
tiliZers and less loss of time in cultivation.
DISTRIBUTION OF MOISTURE.
The rainfall of this country is ample for
all purposes, but the overlooking rivers
testify to the great loss of much that NAV
be saved and which would not only protect
against dIoughts, but also against floods il
properly stored. The New York Station
bulletin reports that the annual average
rainfall in that State foi the past Il years
has been Bib inches, which means that
the amount is nearly sufficient to cover the
entire State to the depth of three feet
Nearly one-half Of this supply passes off as
surface drainage, carrying away large
portion of the plant food from the soil
The average rainfall OF Kansas is only 20
inches, but the loss by surface damage is
only about , inches, leaving Il inches fo
use, this advantage of retention being due
to the surface of the State not b iug as uu
even as that Of New York: hut the suppl,
in Kansas is being saved by irrigation, and
III few more years the State will be par
TALLY secure fr0m drought. Every yea
there are improvements made in the dis
tiibution Of moisture, and gradually the
storage system is being extended eastward.
On many farms of the East reservoirs can
not he used, but there are farms, however,
upon which the reservoir system can be-
easily arranged and applied.
DRAINING AND FLOWING.
One method which may be used on all
farms in deep blowing through pulverzing
of the soil and drainage. If the soil is
titled and the water drawn off from below
the land can be better plowed and made
fine This enables the soil to have greater
capacity of absorption and there is less los ,
by surface flowing. The water in the soil
is drawn up by capillary attraction. If the
surface becomes dry the moisture from
below will rise to the dry surface and thus
come within the reach of plants. 1t is
claimed that during periods of drought the
capillary action of the soil may be sulli-
cent to raise the water from below through
distance Of five or six feet, thus havin.
a supply right under the plants, provided
the soil is in the right condition But
what is this right condition? Deep plow-
ing and thorough Understandings. 1t
means more, however, than deep soil, for
the soil must be very fine if there are to he
capillary tubes. Clods and Jumps will not
permit CT securing the desired object The
soil must therefore not only he deeply
plowcd, but also worked over until it is as
fine as possible, which also permits of a
portion of the moisture being soved from
evaporation by keeping the surface loose to
the depth of an inch or two, thus breaking
lsealin' the upper ends of the capillary
tubes, as well as destroying weeds at the
same time.
NOTES.
Seed is costly but the poorest method of
economy is that Of using as little seed as
4 hpr Of ,.ln
fail because not enough seed is used, and it