The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1910-01-24

4 $50 49, SAAAeA7SI anu IT'S advantage wa
the subject of splendid paper deliver.
ed at the afternoon meeting OF tn,
Tri- State Grain Growers convention or
last week by r. M. DoIve. In sons
parts Of the state drainage is Of much
Importance and this address was OF
great interest. In full it was as fol-
| lows:
| A great sentiment is in favor of tile
drainage Is spreading over the country
and large tracts of land formerly in
tested with malaria and mosquitoes
and supporting scant, shiftless and
ague stricken population has been
transformed into some Of the best ag-
ricultural land in the country. During
the past summer the orders for tile
so far exceeded the expectations that
the manufacturers were from a month
to six weeks behind In their shipments.
This sentiment for tile drainage has
also reached North Dakota and several
large systems were installed during the
past year. Should theses systems prove
successful as there Is every indication
that they will when judging by their
past seasons record, thousand of dol
lars will, during the next few years,
be invested in tile by North Dakota
farmers. IN
Farmers everywhere are commencing
to realize the fact that the removal of
excessive water by drainage is one of
the first essentials to good farming
They are rapidly learning the difference
between field that has been dried by
evaporation and one that has been
dried by tile drainage. The former
bake hard and makes at best poor
seed bed, while the latter becomes por-
Gus and permeaIble, allowing the pant
roots to seek greater depths where
they find ne wnourishment not avail
able In an undrained field.
One of the most apparent effects of
drainage is TO rid the soil of surplus
water. Plants canot live in a water
logged soil as the surplus water fills
all the spaces between the soil particles
to the exclusion of all air. This sur
plus water is known as grawitational
water and can move only downwards
in obedience TO gravity. For this rea-
son, thought the immediate surface
may dry out by evaporation, water
logged soil will retain it's surplus water
for an indefinite period deepnding up
on its permeability. In closely grain
ed soil like ours, this water will re-
main so long in the soil after seeding
has been done in the spring that a
shallow root system that is later sub
tect to drouth and lack of plant food
is formed
Assimilate Only CapiIIan Water.
Although plants cannot live in wet
soil they require moisture. The water
that makes soil moist is the water
that adheres to the soil particles In the |
form of thin film. This is known as
capillary water and has the power to |
move In any direction in the soil by |
what Is known as capillary attraction |
This is the only form of water in the |
soil that is of any benefit to plants as |
by its absorption through the roots, |
the plants assimiIiate their food. 1t |
Is, therefore, important TO retain suf- |
icfent amount of capillary water in the |
soil. When a piece of land is tile |
drained the tile will rapidly remove all
water to the depth Of the |
lie, but the capillary water remains |
and il replenished from below the tile |
as fast as required.
Tile drainage improves the soil by
better ventilation. The roots Of the
plants need air as well as the stems
Ind leaves above the ground, but when
he soil is filled with water, the neces-
AIRY amount of air is in alarge measure
excluded. Air is also essential in the
oil to aid the processes of nitri1cation
fields are secured on drained land is
fNWa@ ia L.. II. - L
Tile drainage helps to ventilate the soil
" causing it to dry out deeper, thus
orming shrinkage cracks through
which the air readily passes. The lines
t tile themselves form ventilating fiues
nd after each successive rain, the air II
; driven out of the soil by the water
nd fresh air Is drawn in as the tile
cmoves the water fro beneath.
Tile drainage deepens the soil from
rhich plants may draw their food sup
~ by lowering the line of excessive :
Fater beyond injury TO the rotts. 1t
ffords to plants a deeper soil for their ,
cots to penetrate, at the rate of 100 !
ons pc racre for every inch of depth II
aimed. It prevents pudding of the !
oil while IL Is being worked by MAX /
lg 1t dry enough to easily pnlverize !
nd greatly reduces the cost OF tillage J
nd other farm operations by making ]
ne soil freer and easier to work. 1t /
smoves alkali and other soluble salts !
'om the soil. These salts are fatal to
he growth OF vegetation and are apt !
, exist In harmful quantities in poorly !
rained land.
Drainage Makes Warmer Soil.
Drainage also makes the soil warmer
Y reducing the cooling effect of evap-
ra ton from the surface so that well 4
rained piece of land viii show tenn !.
srature of several degrees higher in !
he spring than an undrained adjacent 4
iece of land. In this way termination =
ensured at the start and the growing .
sason Is effectively heightened. This \
not only Of great value in the rails i
Is of wheat, but especially so in the i,
Using OF corn which would be an al !
lost assured crop in this northern =
innate If thorough tile drainage was I
'acticed. J
v that IL alfalfa and clover could be
lccessfuIly raised in this section, the r
nd would double In value, and wheat Il
Using could be carried on indefinitely. !
3 is well known, that the only thing !,
at prevents their successful growth 4
too much moisture and the killing I,
feet OF frost. The heaving effect of r
ost takes place only In wet soil and !,
here the soil is underdrained no !,
saving or harmful effect from frost h
n take place. a
Strange as 1t may seem drainage not II