The Lynden tribune. [volume] (Lynden, Wash.) 1908-current, 1911-12-07
TIMELY TOPICS
By Prof. Geo. Severance, SuPerln
tendent, and Prof. L. J. ChsFin'
ARronomist, of the WesternWas ASH
inston Experiment Station.
SOIL DRAINAGE.
By PROF. GEO. SEVERANCE.

The oper ditch is also pfele4a''''
A large percent of our Vest
soils cannot reach th0i
maximum production until they a''
provided with an adequate s!s-sn
of underdrainage. This is true i0'
alone of soils that are actually '''
wet to work but is true of all soilS
that show standing water in 1n
auger hole or post hole within IL
Of the surface any time during Tue
growing season except perhaps uu
ing a period of excessive Falhl"ii'
On soils that need undertaking. pau
ly the kind of crops that can pe
grown are of low acreage vaiue' "'e
very uncertain of success, and apt 10
be of poor quality. Much OF TIE
time such soils are unfit to Worh,
and usually work with difficulty III
best and are seldom worked into d
good seed bed. By getting RID oi
the surplus water the working SEA
son is heightened, the soil is more
friab- and a better seed bed 'dh
be prepared with less expense ior
labor. The drained soil is less likely
to bake and crack during drouth'
and will retain its capillary moisture
better.
The drained soil is much warmer
than the underdrained, often as m'lch
as IL degrees Fahrenheit, which Is
equivalent to retarding the season
one month by lack of drainage. The
drained soil permits freer circulation
Of air, resulting in better ventilation
and specification of the soil and
more active bacterial action and
chemical changes SO necessary IN
getting the latent plant food OF the
soil into proper form for the plants
to use. With the soil underdrained
to the depth of four feet, either
naturally or artificially, the roots
can make a much more rapid AMI
extensive development, giving the
plant greater feeding capacity Aand
greater ability to stand drouth.
Many of the poorly drained Soils
ire among the richest but are slnl-
by out of condition. When warp;
ID and aired by underdrainage they
ire able to grow a much wider ranse
d crops, including some of the ,nore
types and the crops not
only yield more heavily and mme
but are usually of beter
quality. To grow five 500 crops in
i've years on one acre is much
better than growing three $25 crops
Turing five years from the same
acre, yet this difference may be-
easily realized in many cases by
lnderdrainage.
There are two general methods oi
under draining-by open and by clos
ed bitches. The open bitches are
usually best in the first stages Of
very wet lands that are
apt to settle as the great excess oil
water drains out of the soil, partieul-
arly peaty soils. In such cases a
line of tile laid at the outlet IS
apt to settle unevenly and be thrown
so badly off grade that it will soon
ill up.
The open ditch is also preferable
where the surplus is wholly due
10 collection of surface water. III
such cases the ditch should be loe-
ated where it will soonest intercept
the surface flow to prevent washing
away good soil and at the same
time be located where it will take
away the surplus. Such ditches'
should be broad at the top VII"
very flat slopes and would we'll DC
sodded to prevent cutting.
The details of tile drainage eaiiho'
be discussed in this brief article p"'
there are a few important points thA'
should be noted.
l. To be thoroughly effective '"e
drains should be laid about 4 iee'
deep, particularly in heavier foHS'I
Roots of plants will use the soil "
that depth If given chance. l"'I
laid Is to "a inches deep will ara"
very little water except a H.'i9#
right above or close to them -
takes 3 or years for a water io7
ged soil to drain out thorough!'
and come into the proper ply
position. Full benefits must not ''
expected at once.
2. Drains should be located WIle' '.
they will intercept the undergo
flow where the surplus arises I'm !.
lateral seepage as from the base -
a hill or from springs. Large wa
logged areas require well piaii''
system of mains and laterals.
8. The distance apart Will va.
with the character of soil ana
d epth laid. Heavy soils may
drains as close as rods apart v L.