The ranch. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1902-1914, 1908-11-01

vi In6 utCGSSdly ulICnOo. NhOiO ShN
earth is dry, ditching contracts are let
to laborers, who do the work when the
farm labor is slack, at from to 10
cents per cubic yard.
After the ditch has been prepared,
the tile should be laid from the outlet
upgrade. Sizes up to 8 inches in diam
eter may be conveniently laid with a
tile hook, the workman standing on
the bank of the ditch and reaching the
tile into place, turning them in the
trench until the ends fit closely to-
getner along the top line.
When this has been done there is
ordinarily a space between the ends
of the tiles along the bottom or base,
owing to the fact that in their manu-
facture tiles are not usually cut with
parallel ends.
The advantage of starting the
straight ditch and keeping it so will
now be appreciated. In making
curves, the straight tiles can be used
by turning them around until they fit
the desired curve.
In case a crack of one-fourth of an
inch or more is left, it should be COW
cred with a piece of broken tile. juno
ton tiles should be set where laterals
are to enter and these should be YES
in preference to Us.
The Planting Season.
This will open one or two weeks
earlier in a we'll drained field than in
the case of soils affected by surface
drains only. This is somewhat due to
the fact that the frost goes out of the
ground earlier in the spring.
Rain water, as it passes through the
soil, serves a most useful purpose by.
dissolving and preparing crude mate
rial for the nutrition of plant life.
The soil, having been well prepared,
is at all times during the growing
season, in readiness for the growth of
plants; such growth not being him
dered by stagnant water or saturation.
Where stiff clays are found the soil
is made more porous, open and fria-
BILE and the roots penetrate more deep
ly than they do in surface drained soil.
The effect of drought is diminished,
owing to the enlarged and deepened
soil bed, and the more favorable con-
dition of the surface for preventing ex-
cessive evaporation.
Stubborn and refractory soils are
frequently so changed in texture and
structure that they respond to culti
walton with abundant crops.
Harvest Time.
The crop that may be expected from
land properly underdrained Is in bet
ter condition and bears an increase of
from 25 to 100 per cent
Not only may the farmer begin work
week or ten days earlier in the
spring, but he may also expect his
winter grain and clover will not be
injured by the heaving of the soil, as
is the case with wet clay soils.
He may expect his crops to endure
the drought of summer with less In
jury than those of undrained land.
He may adjust the rotation of his
crops irrespective of the fact that
some portions of the field are wet,
while others are dry
He may continue his cultivation dur
ing the summer without being obliged
to avoid or go around portions of his
field which, by heavy rainfall, are
made too wet for profitable cultivation.
Such are few of the advantages
that accrue to the farmer, as regards
the harvesting of his crops, for there
are very few soils that will not re-
spond to undertakings, if properly
treated.
Further valuable information on the
II