The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-12-25
DRAINAGE and ITS
MANY BENEFITS
Continued From First paee)

portion would be clear profit. why
\ not drain 1t and make the entire field
uniformly productive? These arc ap.
parently small matters. but they often
measure the difference between profit
and loss in farming.
The function of water in the soil
is imperfectly understood by many
successful farmers. but the most super
ilcial observer learns that without 1t
Farm crops perish, with too much they
fail while with the proper amount
they thrive and mature their fruit. For
centuries the farmer believed that sue
cess in securing a living from the
land was controlled by cratic climatic
forces whose changes could not be
| predicted nor materially modified by
his own efforts.
He regarded sunshine, rain and the
4 fertility of his soil as gifts of nature,
which promised harvest IL seeds
were sown and the growing plants
cultivated Yet he looked forward to
4 the outcome with dreamy uncertainty.
/ counting himself doubly fortunate IL
I his simple efforts were rewarded by an
abundant harvest. 1t remained for.
modern enterprise TO eliminate some
/ OF the uncertainties of old-time agri-
culture. And where should the process
4 begin If not wit hthe soil, for is 1t
1 not the farmers ca pital. his storehouse
of supplies, the souree of his profits?
| Is not his Inheritance which he should
pass down to the succeeding genera
| ton enhanced rather than impaired in
! value?
study of Drainage.
Drainage is commonly thought of as
the removal of water from the surface
of the ground and as synonymous
With drying the surface. This, how.
ever is but the beginning OF the
process. and is not of itself drainage
in the sense of the term as 1t is used
| in good agriculture. with respect to
this matter, let us inquire into the
relation which soil, water and farm
plants bear to each other, 1t is re-
markable to what extent plants reflect
the water and fertility conditions Of
the soil in their growth and fruitful
ness. Pie soil must possess not only
plant food but also moisture and air.
which are equally essential to the
roots in the preparation OF needed
nutriment The soil is made UP of
solid earth particles presenting every
conceivable form and substance. of
water commonly called moisture.
which surrounds each particle, and of
space between the particles, which re-
suits from their Irregular shape and
varying size. This space portion is
always occupied by either air or
water. and its condition virtually con-
trolls the plant-producing ability of the
soil. Primarily. drainage has to do
with soil space by regulating the
amount of water. and. Incidentally, the
air, thereby producing the conditions
most favorable for roots, and of which
they promptly avail themselves. When
water covers the surface these condi- |
tons are impossible. but when it mas
been taken off by natural or artificial !
channels some lands possess the prop |
erty' of removing the excess of water |
from within the soil by natural per-
collation. and evaporation, while others |
viii remain wet until ado tional means |
of draining are provided.
Controlling Dampness.
A large volume of water is required |
to mature a crop. yet the amount |
should be SO controlled that it will |
be supplied regularly as needed and |
without rendering SOL conditions I'M
favorable TO thrifty growth in other |
respects. 1t is stated by experlmenters I
that 500 to 500 pounds of water are
used in producing one pound of dry |
vegetable matter; that thirty pounds |
of water pass Off through single |
corn plant during it's period of growth, |
and that on summer days Ia pounds |
of water are evaporated from a |,
square foot of leaf surface. While |
this enormous demand OF plants is sup
Piled only by rainfall. which is taken |
out of the soil through the roots, and |
seems an almost incredible amount, II |
should be remembered that an inch In |
depth of water on one acre weighs 10l |
tons, and that the annual precipita-
ton of twenty inches to forty-eight |
inches is exceedingly irregular in time |
and variable in quantity. It is the |
office of drainage to remove the excess
due to unusual precipitation from both !
surface and interior of the SOIL place /
the latter in condition 10 conserve
moisture during periods of drought, |
and make 1t possible for air TO enter
and perform the work so essential to |
the preparation of elements for the
assimilation OF plants. When this is |
done the many salutary effects so Of
ten observed and commented upon fol-
low in natural order
a Tremendous Work.
have emphasized the Importance of
farm and field drainage because 1t is
the first step-the "A, B, C"-of
reclamation work. The agriculture of
large part of the Middle West-the
great corn belt" as It is called
would be languishing to-day had not
those lands been drained and their
natural fertility developed Nothingi
beginning is made. and the place
TO begin is on the field and on the
farm. Lot one man become convinced
by the results of his own work that
drainage Is valuable. and he at once is
ready to attack works OF greater mag
nitude, often to the extent Of work.
Ing for public policy, for the benefit
OF the Commonwealth. as Well as for
private interest
shall not attempt to exploit the
good that would accrue to the State If
the swales, the wastes and the swamps
We're drained. The magnitude OF this
work has deferred many from giving
1t any consideration. At this time it
Is more appropriate that I discuss
ways and means Of reclaIming lands
for farming purposes. In the first
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