The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1906-01-11
STRONG PAPER.

,s.ES.s ~
STRONG PAPER.
Was That on 'sDrainage Of the PrairIes
and Its Results"
Following is the paper of C. G,
Elliott, Bureue of Irrigation and
Drainage, Agricultural Department
Read before the Drainage convention
Since the productiveness of our
prairies has become known they have
been regarded as the granary of the
nation. They constitute our largest
areas of fertile land. They are, as
the name signifies, natures meadows
and are capable of producing staple
cereals varied in kind and bountiful
IN yield. Many hill farms in the East
have been abandoned because the
prairie lands offer a larger and more
certain reward to the farmer. It is
asked why settlers are not more gen.
orally attracted by the cheap lands
In the south. The reply is the praries
and other lands in the West are more
fertile, promise larger returns for the
labor put upon them and in that re-
spect are more desirable. The pioneer
settler is willing to undergo many
hardships If in the end he can possess
farm of pronounced and lasting fer
tility. Aside from health considera-
tons 1t is the great desideratum In
the selection of land.
1t is needless to say, except to
those without experience, that the
making of a home on the prairie is
often an arduous undertaking, for
while these lands are attractive by
af Int
they are only natures diamonds in
the rough from which farms may be
cut, homes made, citizens developed,
thus becoming the States choicest
treasures These lands ask mans
best effort in their management. and
respond with generous haryests.
Farmers frequently forget that the
soil Is their capital and as such must
be looked after and guarded with care
II continual revenue is to be real
lied. They generously provide houses,
barns and other working outfit at
great expense, but begrudge the soil
any Improvement required upon the
supposition that here nature has done
4 OIL will f'e ls4s Nature 2,,rpishess slle
land and weather; the farmer must
do the rest. ~ t'7 r, p
The prairies of the Red river val
ley are similar to those of other great
valleys in one respect at least: they
require draining to fit them for culti-
waited farms. This need appears more
urgent as newly made farms grow
older. The portions first settled are
those having the best natural, drain
age. The lower levels, the sloughs,
the ponds, and natural drainage
courses however slight on farms and
in the country at large are uncultivat-
ed. The sod when first turned is filled
with roots which afford some drainage
facilities, and much reservoir capacity
for surplus water But all these con-
ditions change as farming operations
proceed from year to year. The older!
cultivated soils become more compact
as the primitive vegetation in them
decays. The more level lands are
taken up and cultivated. The demand
for new farms causes the borders of
cultivation to be extended until all
land of whatever descrin+inn is turned
into farms and the attempt made to
cultivate them. "A re,u.u.A, -,..c o..
wet seasons shows the farmer in a
most emphatic manner that much of
his land is unfit for cultivation, not
from lack of fertility but from lack of
drainage. This state of affairs is not
peculiar to the lands of the Red river
valley. 1t is true in a general sense
of all prairies. Rolling land is diversi-
fled by sloughs and depressions which
require drainage preliminary to sue
cessful cultivation.
Much has been said concerning the
drainage of land, and the difference in
production between wet and dry
farms, so called, has been pointed out
In conventions of this character the
term does not have the same signifi-
canoe to different individuals. All of
us do not distinguish between drain
ing and drying land, and even within
the circle of scientific experimentation
the true Office of drainage is not al
ways understood nor its value appre-
ciated in the treatment of refractory
soils. We find culture experiments at
tempted upon lands which are sur
face dried but not drained. We may
use all manner of commercial fer
tilizers, chemical mixtures, soil cor
receives, patent bacteria, and every
other device for inveigling nature in
to giving us a crop of food plants and
we will have Indifferent success If we
omit to secure proper moisture con-
ditions, that most essential element to
plant growth.
Some years ago experiments were
begun in southern state to test the
value of certain swamp lands for grow
ing sugar cane. The land was drained
in a manner and cane planted, but
the growth Of the plant was weak and
in no way satisfactory. Ii was con
tended by the foreman of the lield thar
the drainage provided was inadequate.
Those In charge of the experiment
pointed to the surface, showed its mel
low and friable condition and asserted
that no soil could be In better condi-
~tion. But I'll show you that the
land will not bear the weight Of a
mule" !" replied the foreman, whereup-
on he brought mule to the feld,
hitched him to a pillow and directed
a workman to make furrow across
the field. The animal was soon
foundering in the soft wet muck upon
which the mellow surface soil rested.
much to the discontinue OF both mule
and driver. The land was dried but
not drained. It may be added that the
experiment In growing cane on this
land ts recorded as q failure, White
not one mile distant 40 tons OF cane
per acre were grown by other Dartisa
on similar land which was suitxbly'
drained - S7ss
Ten years ago, q tract ~ I400 atcres
81 49,, :,