Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-10-25

is compelled to re-seed the land. Soil
which has been drained and Is free
from surplus water, Is we'll supplied
with interspaces filled with air. There
fore, when the soil moisture freezes,
abundant room is afforded for eXpan-
sion and thus the plant roots are pro-
tected i'm the largest measure from the
injurious results which it has been
shown follow the expansion and con-
traction of the surface of the SOIL.
Drainage Benefits Rolling Land.
Again, many farmers do not appre-
ciate the value of draining rolling land.
They do not understand the results
which follow thing land of this char
aeter. On hillsldes having clay sub
soil, the water which FALLS upon the
surface OF will sink into the soil and
be CARRIED off underground instead of
over the surface, if an underdrain has
been located in the subsoil at the depth
of three or four feet When these
hillsides are drained this surplus wa
ter will be readily carried off, with the
result that the soil will not become so
thoroughly saturated and surface
washing WILL in a. large measure be
prevented In few years this we'll
drained land will be greatly improved
by the accumulation of humus within
the surface sold by the oumulation OF
the air among the soil particles ana
by the action of the soil bacteria,
which, now for the first time, finds
within its depth suitable and con-
genial home. On hIllsides not
fully drained the surface soil perme-
able by water is very thin, and
frequently undertake by a stiff and al
most impervious clay. The result is
that when beating rains fall they carry
more or less Of this surface soil into
the valleys below. This action annual
ly removes a considerable portion OF
the most fertile soil and is one OF the
most potent factors in keeping these
rolling lands less productive than they
would be under more rational manage
ment.
Road Drainage.
The problem Of good roads Is close
ly connected with land drainage. The
field cannot he properly drained with
out benefit to the road nor can the
roads be properly drained without ben
eft to the fields near by.
The enemy Of good roads is water.
The first object to be attained in the
perfecting of road beds is adequate
provision for the rapid removal OF
water which falls upon the highway.
1t matters not what further improve
ment is contemplated whether it be
macadam or merely grading and
smoothing the dirt surface, the use of
tile for the removal Of this water will
result I'm permanent improvement of
country roads.
The work of the underdrains is tm-
portant in keeping good base upon
sary to remove the water rapidly from
the road surface by surface drainage
before 1t can do permanent injury by
soaking into the road bed. itself. To
secure the best results In this way the
road must receive sufficient care to
keep it browning and free from ruts
so that the water will run Off rapidly.
Also broad, shallow bitches should be
built along the side of the road to car
ry off the surface water rapidly In
time Of heavy rainfall.
The successful maintenance OF hun
dreds of miles of country roads in Iowa
depends upon a painstaking observance
of three rules They are as follows:
/. Lay underdrains on one or both
sides of the roadbed near its base.
2. Build wide surface bitches at
each side.
8. Keep the travelled portion OF the
roadbed we'll crowned and smooth.