The Mt. Sterling advocate. (Mt. Sterling, Ky.) 1890-current, 1900-03-20
INTERESTING FACTS,
Important to the Parmers-Bene-
fits of Tile Drainage.

/ 80 W. w oii VI lut duHhU
ages OF tile drainage, but will con-
tne TO most important points. Wa
tir,t used ia th. country in 1884 and
was brought from the old country.
Ii has now reached every section OF
our country to some extent. Tile
drainage has brought out blooming
gardens s,d productive fields from
-wamps and miasmstic Dogs. in ON
great Western level country. VIII
now submit for YOUR con-id ara ton,
how and why it has accomplished 50
much.
The mission of the tile is to take
away the water, which warns the
soil, by settling the rainfall which l.
warmed on the surface of the ground,
which warmth is communicated to the
earth as It passes down to the tle.
Heat and moisture are two necessary
elements TO vegetation. Experience
has shown that drained soil is on an
average of some ten degrees warmer
at depth of seven inches, than un
drained soil. Heat and moisture are
necessary 10 the termination or
sprouting OF seeds and the growth OF
plants. While in the absence of these
elements, the seed would be dormant
in the ground and finally decay.
The soil being made warmer, the
season tor planting becomes earlier,
and lengthens the season, while sol
being at all times in proper condition.
vegetation thriVes continuously. II e
fertility Of the soil is conserved on
d. aimed land for the water, instet d
OF rushing over the surface to low.
er level, carrying the enrichiug mat
ter, descends, slowly, through the
open intersIices o the earth, carving
tue fertilizing ingredients with il to
the roots OF the plant. Observation
has shown us that the soil needing the
most drainage is the most CONF &C ,
being made so by water. Plant TODD
in solution will be largely retained in
the soil, while the water will slowly
filter through it aud ran clear from
outlet of tile. Drainage lowers the
water level, encouraging the roots OF
the plant to penetrate below the eff
fecls of summer drouIh, securing the
free admission of air, which is also
essential to plant growth. Thing
prevents floods to some extent, as it
lowers the water level The action
of the water, seeking the tile below
leaves the earth full of innumerable
pores, which hold the water till
finds its way, slowly, down to the tile,
enriching the ro0tlets of plant lite
with the salts of the air which the
rainfall precipitates. We have OBJ
served that on tiled land, the surface
dries out very rapidly after rainfall q,
but the top of the soil. dried, is very
shallow. These dried parts act as a
mulch or cover for the surface, pre-
venting too rapid evaporation, and
causing the little rootets to penetrate
the arabic soil seeking nourishment
and strength necessary to plant lite.
This same condition of sol prevents
early freezing in autumn or the thaw-
ing and freezing in early spring so
Injurious to wheat. Plant life de-
mands air as well as heat and mois-
ture, everv one knows how essential
blowing is for corn crop. The lead
ing of the water downward opens the
soil, admits warmth, increases its
depth below the young roots OF the
plants. Cold, wet feet for plant life is
as fatal as for human life.
Applying the same principle, that
ii fertilizers are applied to land it is
not washed of on the surfsce for the
porosity of the earth retains it as al
ready shown.
Tile drainage is beneficial in dry
weather for the reason the pores in
the ground made by action of The
water become breathing holes CEN
tering on the tile in numberless an
giles; these pores connecting the tile
with the surface of the ground act as
little chimneys or breathing holes
which create draft through the tile
This brings the night s;r, laden
with moisture, in contact
with the soil. 1t is cooler than the
air and causes the dsmpness to be
taken up by the soil, and commune
Gated to the roots of vegetation.
Tile drainage has made low msrshy
lands of the great West more favora-