Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1904-07-13
DRAINING THE SOIL.
Increasing Attention Given to This
Feature--Benefits and Methods.

Increasing Attention Given to Thi
Feature--BeneAts and Methods.
We get many letters indicating inter
est in farm drainage. We are pleased
to note the increasing appreciation o
its Importance No soil can do its full
work until 1t Is we'll drained This Il
true Of uplands as well as bottoms
says DR.. Hunnicutt in Southern Guilt
vator. Taking the surface water off Il
not all of drainage. 1t is simply the
beginning. The soil needs to be in sucl
condition that all surplus water will
readily run Off or, what is much better
sink down below where we are cult
waiting.
Hardpan prevents this. Hence one
important step in the drainage of up.
land Is to break the hardpan where ii
has formed and to prevent its forma-
tion in fresh land and its reformation
where once broken. When the water
cannot get away it fills the pores of
the soil and prevents the air from cir
culating This prevents aratiOn. Very
many find that it pays to go to trouble
and expense Of laying tile drains to as
sist In the thorough drainage of the
SOIL
Where the pores are kept open and
the air can circulate freely aration
becomes very active and large quanti
ties of locked up plant food become
soluble and available. Soil which was
very poor and unproductive becomes
very rich.
Drainage does not mean drying the
soil to any hurtful extent On the con-
trary. well ventilated soils will supply
moisture as needed much better than
soils which are not properly drained
When the wafer cannot move readily
1t puddles the soil, and then the sun
and winds bake 1t very hard. In this
way capillary action is hindered When
dry spell comes and water is needed
In large quantities it cannot be fur
nished. and crops are greatly injured.
II we try to remedy the evil by break
ing when in this condition the soil does
not crumble or pulverize, but comes up
In hard Jumps. All the capillary tubes
are destroyed. and great damage 10
done.
On bottom lands we drain with open
ed bitches or covered bitches or a com
binatiOn OF the two. The main ditch |
should run In the lowest place if posi-
BILE and should be straight as practi-
cable-a small straight ditch three or
f0IIr foot NriHO Nu.iff <~- |
drains bottoms much better than slow
running: hence the main ditch should
have good fall This ditch should be
three to five feet deep. All the side
bitches should empty into this main
ditch with considerable fall the way
the water is going They should never
strike 1t at right angles. 1t is impOr-
tant that these bitches should always
be well open at the mouth Soil is like
a sponge. Ii draws up standing or slow
running water. The method of max
Ing covered bitches is so well under
stood by most farmers that 1t is not
necessary to go into details. BE sure
TO have the bitches deep enough to
prevent plOws from ever disturbing
the poles planks, stone or tiling.
Draining uplands can be done in
most cases by deep blowing. bitches
should not be used on uplands. Break
the hardpan. A ditch OH upland can
DO no good. but must and will do great
harm. We do not wish to lose any Of
our soil. The finer particles are the
most valuable. a ditch never carries
clear water The mud is the cream OF
the soil. We cannot afford to lose any
Of 1t. If the soil is deeply broken the
water will soak down out of the way
when an excess falls. The same con.
iition Will enable the water to come
back by capillary action and root
when needed.
We know that it is hard to convince {
many farmers that deep level blowing |
will control all the rain water, but we |
nave seen Is done SO often that we do I
lot hesitate to say it can be done. Try Z
fifteen inches OF soil and see. Keep b
our rainfall; you will need it all. 4