The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-11-17

address Of George NJ. Warren, OF
the Jnited States department of
drainage investigators, before the
Wig MIA Drainage association last
week Mr.. Warren rs the expert en-
gsneer who recently completed the
survey of the Chickahominy river
valley which makes possible the re-
clamation CT $4,000 acres Of fine
lan0.)
Mr.. President. Ladies and Gentlemen;
The work Of the Agricultural is no
mean pursuit. II ts the most impor-
tant known TO mankind This is true
today and has been In the past since
the time man gradually emerged from
the barbaric state. 1t must of neces-
sity held true | nthe future till such
time az an adequate food supply
shall cease 10 be mans principal want.
over So per cent of the people of
the United States are engaged direct
~ or Indirectly in agricultural pur
suits. contributing In 1910. ahout g.
0o.0ea. 0o0 of dollars to the tangi-
BILE wealth Of the country.
The foundation upon which rests
this great industry is the soil 1t is
the greatest natural resource of the
country. 1t Is the chief asset OF the
agriculturist. his stock in trade, as
1t were. and 1t Is OF vital Importance
that what nature has SO generously
bestowed should be cared ror, con-
served and extended.
Drainage is the fundamental re-
quirement of soil fertility. II mat
tiers little as to the locality or what
the character Of the soil, If the land
be too wet agriculture will be entirely
lacking. or if tried, end in loss and
encouragement through the failure
OF crops to mature and bear their
fruit.
AS an illustrators, the Newark
marshes in New Jersey may be cited.
These lands represent a type of soft
generally known-tD possess great in
herent fertility. Moreover, their loca-
ton almost within the confines of
Greater New York, that remarkable
concentration of wealth and popula-
ton, would naturally enhance their
agricultural value. And yet in an
agricultural way these lands are pro-
dus!ng nothing. nor can they until
drainage shah have led the way.
How often We hear the remark In
explanation Of light crops that the
season was too wet or too dry. too
cold or too hot, or perhaps too short
So often is this the case, that we all
most seem justified In concluding that
no season Is Just right and that ezra
tic climatic conditions are gifts of
providence creating conditions in the
coll that man cannot materially mod
ify through any efforts of his own.
Let us look into the correctness of
such a conclusion. and. further. try
to see and understand why thorough
drainage Is so fundamentally neces-
sary TO successful agriculture.
A soil which Ia perfectly dry will
yield nothing. A soil which is COM
pletely saturated with water is al
most as valueless, and aside from a
few special crops such as rice or
cranberries, will yield little of ben
eft to man. Between these extremes
there is a condition OF the soil as re-
CARDS moisture by virtue OF which
the useful plants thrive and come to
fruition.
II we should take a cubic foot of
soil and heat II thoroughly for a
number OF days practically all mois-
ture would be driven of and we
would have the dry condition OF soil
just referred to.
Ii now the cubic foot OF soil should
be exposed to the air It would ah-
sorb n certain amount Of moisture
from the atmosphere but not enough
to support ordinary plant life. This
moisture is called the MICROSCOPIC or
atmospheric water and amounts 10
from 4 to 5 per cent of the, weight
OF the soil.
II the cubic foot OF soil were now
brought In contract with a water sur
face. 1t would. by capillary attrac-
tion. &C oil Is drawn up In asdamp
wick. take up more moisture. This
is called the capillary water and Is
the only water needed for mort FERNS
Of plant ufe. II amounts to ~ or