Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1903-10-29
Facts for Our Farmers.
How Tile Drainage improves a Soil.


How Tile Drainage improves Soil.
A. B. Alexander in Chicago Tribune.
Draining a soil consists in removing
either naturally or artificially the sur
plus water from the soil; hence q
drained soil is one which is moist but
not saturated with water. 1t IS worth
less for producing plants, except those
which derive their nutriment from the
atmosphere alone soil that is com
pletely saturated with water will pro-
duce nothing but aquatic plants, and
hence is worthless for farm products.
The nutriment which plants take
from the soil is in liquid form only, 1t
having been prepared by chemical
action brought about by the union OF
heat and moisture with the elements
present. An excess of moisture re-
duces the temperature, excludes the
air, and dilutes the plant food, thus
retarding or entirely stopping the
growth Of the plant as effectually DIS
is done when the soil is too dry; there
fore, in order for the soil to produce
TO its fullest extent. it must be sup-I
piled with moisture, or if a super
abundance, removed from it, as the case
may be- But here in central Illinois
the latter is usually the case, and in
order to remove this excess of moist
IRE, there Is no better waJ yet known
than through tile drains, properly laid
beneath the surface.
Some of the best drained soils are
80 by nature. They are underlaid with
a stratum of material which gives tree
egress to surplus water and are com
posed of elements which respond read
lily TO the efforts of the cutivator. On
the other hand, there are soils just as
rich in natural fertility, but unpro-
ductlve, because under all ordinary
circumstances they contain too much
water. Their natural location is such
that they are saturated beyond the
point required for profitable plant
growth. Such soils should be artih |
cially drained. This only will develop
their fertility and make them profit |
able. Whether the excess OF soil water |
comes from rainfall direct, or from
seepake of soils which occupy a higher
level, the surplus must be removed be-
fore the soil will be in proper condi- |
ton for plant growth
After ten years experience as a sur
Veyor and drainage engineer, | am cor |
vinced that undertakings is far better |
that surface drainage removes the |
water from the land before it. enters |
the soil or at lease before it penetrates |
farther than the surface layer, while |
underdrainage removes surplus water |
by taking II downward through the |
soil and away from ii by means of !
natural or artificial channels within |
the soil. Sufficient surface drainage
should be provided to insure the com.
rletion OF the work of underdrainage. |
The advantage of removing the sur
race water down through the soil is to !
retain everything, not permitting tho
finest and most fertile parts to be car.
ried off with every considerable rain.
fall, Any manure or other fertilizer
deposited upon the soil is carried into
II with the water as il percolates
downward from the surface. and so
becomes thoroughly Incorporated with
the soil
Kahn and snow water itself is a fer.
tilizer, enriching the soil by dissolviug |
the crude soil material for the nutri-
ton of plant life. Soil that is under
drained is ready at all times during |
the growing season for the growth of |
plants. such growth not being him
dered by stagnant water or saturated |
soil The frost goes out earlier in the |
spring. so that the planting season
opens one or two weeks earlier than !
the case of undrained soils.
The soil is made more porous. omen |
aud iriable, roots penetrate deerer |
than they do into undraned soils. The |
effects of drought are diminished. ow. |
ing 10 the enlarged and deepened soil |
bed. and to the perfect condition of !
the surface for preventing undue
evaporation of moisture. Orange Judd
:,