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

90 per cent of all the water which
soil will hold. Our cubic foot of
soil Is now between the two extremes.
II is neither too wet nor too dry.
but possesses the amount Of mois-
ture most favorable to- ordinary forms
of plant life.
More water can stiil be put into
the cGbic foot OF soil, but 1t would
not remain there. This excess IS
known as gravisational water. that is,
II given the opportunity il would pass
eff through the force OF gravity, This
Is the water that renders a soil satu-
rated and which drainage seeks TO re-
move. The illustrative cube of soil
has now reached the other extreme
and is too wet for healthy plant
growth.
Drainage Is not the mere removal
OF superfious water from the surface
Of land. While it seeks to do this,
IL also regulates the amount of mois-
ture needed by plants by lowering the
gfavitational or#free water. common
~ called the ground water, SO that
its level shall be below the roots OF
growing crops but still within easy
capillary distance of these roots.
1t is the office of drainage to re-
move any excess OF water not only
from the land surface but from the
soil pores as well, making il possible
for air, sunlight and frost to enter
and perform the work SO essential
To the preparation of the elements
needed for the nutrition of plants.
Drainage benefits In other ways:
First. 1t conserves the soil mois-
ture. There is less water in a wet
season and more in dry one. This
seems paradoXicai. and yet it is true.
II Is well established fact that
poorly drained soil, because of the
shallow seed bed and the favorable
condition of its surface TO excessive
evaporation yields most quickly to
the effects of drouth. On the other
hand a well and deeply drained soil
will have sufficient capillary water
stored UP In its pores to tide over
crops during dry weather.
Second A drained soil IS more
porous and open. and roots pene-
trate deeper. Air Is an essential in the
soil as moisture. but ii a soil be satu-
rated obviously no air can enter.
Contrast the conditions when drouth
occurs. In the well drained soil the
deep strong roots. made strong be-
cause they have always grown down
ward seeking moisture, stand the
plant in good stead. In the poorly
drained soil the roo.s are slender anu
superficial and heat and drouth re-
tard the plants growth IL indeed they
do not destroy 1t.
Third. Rain water. by passing into
and through a drained soil. serves
useful purpose In dissolving crude
soil particles. and in imparting to
the soil many OF the valuable fertf-
Icing elements which 1t contains.
Fourth. In n wen drained soil
there Is less chance for surface erosion
or wash Of the land. Hence the
finest and most fertile particles are
/ not carried off the surface to be
deposited in adjacent streams or
rivers. but with any fertilizer deposit
ed upon the land. are conducted Into
and become Incorporated with the soil
Fifth. A drained son is warmer.
frost goes out earlier in the spring.
and hence the growing season Is made
earlier and longer. later receives
and parts with It's heat very slowly.
II Is due largely to this fact that
places situated near the ocean are
in summer than those further In
land. A wet eeil viii always be a
cold one. 1t has been shown that
there may be difference In tempera-
! ture OF TO 10 degrees between a
well drained and poorly drained soil.
The advantage of week or ten uays
gained In starting crop in the early
spring is undeniabie, and especially
! is this true II tho lands are to be
put In any OF the truck crops which
at this season Of the year always
| ind ready and profitable market.
Sixth. There ID saving OF time.
| labor and capital In conducting farm
fContfnucd a second Paxe.l