The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1908-09-30
Drainage OF Soils.

ana larger proportion OF dif {,
warmth and moisture In the soil
Drainage benefits the land also by af-
fording ready outlet for all excess
of water, thereby preventing stagna-
tion and removing n source of evil,
The bad effects produced by an ex-
cess of waterfall Of which are, of
course, removed by drainage--may be
enumerated at length. One evil pro-
duced Is the consequent diminution
In the quantity OF air within 1t, which
air is OF the greatest consequence,
not only In promoting the chemical
changes requisite for the preparation
OF the food for plants, but likewise
to the roots themselves. Excess of
water Injuries the soil by diminishing
its temperature in summer and In
| creasing 1t in winter-a transposition
OF nature most hurtful to perennials,
because the vigor of plant in spring
depends greatly upon the lowness OF
temperature TO which II has been sub
| jected during winter (withln certain
| limits), ms the difference OF tempera-
ture between winter and spring Is
the exciting cause of the ascent OF the
sap. The presence of a large quantity
of water in the soil also alters the re-
suit of putrefaction, by which some
substances are formed which are use
less to plants. An increase in the
proportion of moisture in soils has
powerful effect upon its saline con-
stituents, by which many changes are
produced diametrically opposite to
those that take place in soil where the
water Is much less in quantity; and In
this way the good effects Of many val
liable constituents are greatly dimin-
ished, as for instance, the action of
carbonic acid upon lime and green
materials, and gypsum upon car
Donate of ammonia.
The proportion of plant foods avail
able in the soil for the use of crops
is largely Influenced by drainage and
the amount of surplus water in the
soil. The directions of the currents
which occur in wet soils are entirely
altered by drainage; in undrained
soil are altogether from below upward
being produced by the force of
quently the spongioles of the plants
are supplied with undesirable subsoil
water; but when the land is drained
the currents are from the surface to
the drains, and the roots are, conse-
quently, supplied with fresh aerated
water. Drainage increases the alb
sorption OF carbonic acid, also the at
mospheric supply of food, and Gre
htes tendency in the plant to pro-
duce leaves possessing a different
structure from those which the same
plant produces in dry situations. An
other important point is that on land
that has been drained the system of
subsolllng can be adopted with ten
fold advantage, which is an object of
the highest Importance, for there is
no doubt that the use Of the subsoil
| plow has been satisfactory on almost
all soils, having been found as valua-
BILE on light lands with rententive
bottoms as upon those of a more COM
pact and stiffer surface, rendering
| soils drler in wet weather and more
moist during season Of drought.
That a tenacious and impervious sub
soil must be relieved from the water
| collected and retained on its surface
before the earth can be fitted for the
growth OF vegetable matter has been
most clearly and satisfactorily ascer-
Fof tO
this object may be a question, but 1t
Is probable that understanding with
tiles will be found the most econom-
lcal method.
A cold soil is never capable of pro-
ducins profitable crops. An excess
Of water in the soil, in addition to its
Injury to the soil, also produces a
constant dampness of the atmosphere,
which has been shown to be injurious
to plants, especially by diminishing
evaporation, thus rendering the
process Of assimilation slower, and in
some sections and on certain farms
malaria results; in fact, there is every
reason to believe that surface water,
which is for the most part stagnant,
Is by far the most injurious, because
In this manner the currents produced
during the heat of summer-namely
the period at which vegetation should
be most active-will OF necessity be
entirely from below upwards, being
produced by the evaporation of the
water upon the surface of the soil, the
consequence being tnat the roots of
the plants, instead of being supplied
with water charged with the valuable
plants foods, will be supplied with
water which has existed so long in the
soil that 1t will have lost these vegeta-
Bile ingredients, and will, moreover,
be charged with excrementitious mat
ters. No system of drainage can di-
minish the quantity Of water which
soil receives; it can only affect the
quantity which il retains and prevent
stagnation by allowing it to escape
freely that continual currents are pro-
duced so long as any excess of water
remains. Drainage will not fail to
pay percentage upon the cost far
thar, ath ha, In &c