The ranch. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1902-1914, 1908-11-01
Reel ALTON
Edited by Prof w. w. Mclaughlin, Logan, Utah.

Is, let Cne IOllOWluS QueSJlOu De uOW
asked: What is the source of the wa
ter and how does it get onto and into
the soil? I would ask the reader to
stop just moment, and think wheth-
er there is any difference in the an
swer to the last question for arid To-
calities and for humid localities. A
correct answer to the question may be
the cause of your changing somewhat
your views on drainage. 1t at least
forms one of the basic principles of
drainage, and if there is a difference
in your answer, it will certainly make
a difference in the principles. Is it
not q fact that the direct source of
the wet land in the humid sections is
the rainfall and the snowfall, combined
with a lack of natural drainage? Is
this the direct cause of wet lands in
the arid or Western part of our cOun-
try? Probably your answer to the
last question will be that in a major
ity of cases the wet land is caused by
seepage water from irrigation and
irrigation bitches. Is it not a fact
that in the humid sections, the wet
land is caused by water falling direct
ly upon the land as rain and snow,
Is the direct cause of seepage water
in the soil? Let us now state, in
general, that we are draining in d
majority of cases in the arid section
to take care of seepage water and not
surface water. 1t requires no argu.
ment to convince anyone of the i'm
practibility of preventing rain and
snow from falling upon his farm. Can
we prevent seepage water from run
ming onto our farms? My answer to
that question is-in a majority of
cases-yes. This answer forms the
basis of one general law of drainage
in the arid sections which it is desire d
to impress upon the reader, and fol
lows. In the arid sections where we
are draining for seepage water. our
aim should be: Drain the wet land to
intercept the seepage water before it
reaches the land to be drained. Drain
to keep the water off-not to take it
off after it has reached the land. I'm
der humid conditions, we drain to
remove the water after it has reached
the land, as it is not possible to pre-
vent the excessive rainfall from flood.
ing the land. In the West, we drain
to prevent and in the humid sections
we drain to remove the surplus water
In the next article will be taken up
the effect of these principles upon the
location of drains.
Drain Tile.
The necessity of draining land is
acknowledged by all successful farm
ers. Some of the advantages to be
gained are as follows:
1. To prevent damage by heavy
rains or floods.
2. To enable working land imme-
dlately after rains, the earlier plant
ing of crops and longer growing sea-
son.
3. To prevent surface washing, by
drawing the water down through the
soil as fast as it falls.
A. To prevent land from becoming
sour.
5. To prevent harmful crust from
forming after hard rains in warm
weather.
The use of drain tile, in short, in
sures better, larger and consequently
more profitable crops. This can be
easily demonstrated by thing a piece
of land and comparing the crops with
those on an adjoining piece OF I'M
drained land.
In laying tile great care should be
taken; the bottom of the trench should
be smooth and have regular line OF
descent, so that the current may have
a smooth flow from head to the mouth
of the drain. The joints should fit
closely, as with all care there will be
sufficient space for the inlet of wa
ter, and close joints will prevent the
admission of silt or washings. Where
laterals are brought into the main
line Y branches should be used. This
prevents the flow from the lateral
obstructing the flow in the main
branch. Where practicable, we would