The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1909-01-09

primitive method was that of deep
surface bitches. These though CHEAP
as regards initial cost, are undesira-
Bile because they fill up readily and
become choked, interfere with irriga-
ton and are a nuisance on any farm.
However, if the bitches are kept open
such system may be efficient. Lay
ing drains is the method we would
recommend. When properly con-
structed and durable material is used
such a system is permanent and
should last for all time. To provide
drainage for any farm means not only
to remove the excess water but to in
tercept any seepage from adjoining
land. Hence it often means laying
a line of drains along the upper Dor
der of the farm, as we'll as a sufficient
number through the affected land.
Details.
TO one contemplating drainage
| there are number of questions aris-
ing. One of the more important is
that of the distance apart of the
drains. That will vary from 1870 feet
in clayey soils to 300 in a sandy one.
| The proper distance has to be de-
termined by experiment, though an
experienced drainage engineer can
| generally make a close guess. The
depth at which they should be placed
may be from to feet below the
surface. That depth is necessary
since the water table or level of
| ground water must be lowered at
least to depth of or 4 feet, making
that much soil habitable to roots of
crops. We know that the roots need
air and do not perform their function
in a saturated soil The grade is
another matter to be considered. One
half inch per 100 feet is about as lit
| tie grade as can be used, while no
more than Z inches per 100 feet is
advisable. AS regards the kind of
material for drains tile is always to
Der is much cheaper it is sometimes
used Anyone using lumber should
consider that such drains are but
| temporary since through rotting they
give away sooner or later. The size
of tile drains may be from to
inches. The smaller sizes are used
| in, tho hro If
ger ones of course have to be placed
below the confluence of lines of
drains and these must be of size
adequate to carry the volume of wa
ter accumulated.
There are other details that have
to be worked out such as packing and
settling the soil well about the drains
and filling the trenches so irrigation
water will not run in streams into
them. Where the water carries silt
catchment basins for silt have to be
made and often provision is made for
flushing the drains and thus cleaning
out any accumulated silt.
Where drainage systems have been
installed the cost has ranged from
$40 to $40 per acre or about half as
much as the water right generally
costs.
Alkali.
Waterlogging soils is generally ac-
companied by accumulation of alkali
in injurious quantities. AS proven
tative measure cultivation to stop ex-
cessive evaporation will do a great
deal to lessen accumulation of alkali
in the surface soil. Washing out
alkali by running water over the sur
face or by flooding, thereby flushing
off the surface and washing the salts
deeper into the soil has been success
full where the subsoil Is on an open
texture. Generally, however the nat
ural undertakings is not rapiC
enough to render this method very
effective. Furthermore It Is of little
value where the ground water is with
In feet of the surface. Flooulhe
with artificial drainage, however, has
been very successful in Utah, Where
the location of the land and other con
ditions Justify the expense this meth
cd Is to be recommended. Washing
out alkall requires large volumes o
water-several times as much as II
used on the same amount of land IL
an irrigation season. While large
amounts of water are thus necessary
for treating land badly affected will
alkall something may be done by or
binary irrigation where a drainage
system has been installed. Having
lowered the water table and thu
stopped largely the upward course o
the water, irrigation will tend to car
ry the salt downward into the soil
! more or less of It finding its way int
the drains. In any soil that is KEEP
| 49,, Ia, cultivation so that irrigation