The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1913-04-24

| 80. 6otS0Nl ldnu near
Tile drainage has been designated
a. the key 10 all soil improvement. Its
establishment is at the foundation OF
all other practices which must be en-
lployed II It does not exist, the other
farm practices such as ttlEage, fertiIt'
cation, etc, can not be applied e1ec'
lively. II can he said to be the most
valuable permanent improvement that
can he put on land.
An excess Of water in the soil has
many and far-reaching effects upon
plant growth. especially If This cOndi'
| ton is intcrmittant.
Effects Of Drainage.
A few Of the most important effects
of drainage are as follows: - Firms
the soil. t9) Increases the available
moisture capacity 80 Improves the
aeration OF the soil. A) Raises the
average temperature. (5) Reduces
l"heaving." go Promotes the growth
tof desirable bacteria. ~ Land is
ready for seeding eater. ($) In
creaseS crop yield.
The need for drainage Is indicated
when water stands at or near the sur
face Of the soil sufficiently long to III
terrere with farm operations in the
way of tiIlage, planting or harvesting
The three essential requirements for
the growing of good crops. so far as
the physical condition Of The soil Is
concerned, are: a. The right condl-
ton OF temperature. t2) The right
Icondition Of moisture. l3) Sufficient
ventilation. The seed Of most of our
farm crops will germnale most rapid
~ when the temperature ranges from
Is 10 90 degrees depending upon the
IrrOp. They will not terminate vlgor'
ously al a temperature below GO de-
Erees. Tie vIgor Of the growth OF the
future plant will he modified quite ma
lterially by the rate of termination. In
soil with surface temperature as
low as GO degrees late in the spring
and early summer. as Is the case IN
luudcrlrainrd soil the rate OF plant
rcpding will he low. as will also the rate
Of nitritcation and free nitrogen fin
ing. 1t requires much more heat 10
warm an Oyerwct soil than il does 10
warm the same soil with the hest OF
moisture for the growing OF crops:
The soil must be ventilated for the
same reason that our houses mnsI be
ventilated namely, to keep up a prop
ar supply Of oxygen ii the soil and
% remove from the soil undesirable
gases which are deposited in the soil
by the termination Of seeds and the
growth Of roots. also the soil must he
ventilated 10 keep mp the supply OF
nitrogen. Seeds will moi terminate in
the absence ot oxygen and plants Will
lie because OF its absence. The roots
Of ordinary crops can moi grow under
water Under hest conditions the
roots OF corn plants will grow to
depth Of eight to twelve feet. IT.
therefore, water stands within two and
n half to three feet Of the surface OF
the ground, the area which these roots
may occupy Is much restricted
Lands Likely To Need Drainage.
Low.lying, fiat areas and especially
those partly surrounded by hills are
generally in need Of drainage. Heavy
rlay soils, even though they have ap'
parently considerable natural surface
drainage. siuated on the slopes Of
hills. are quite often found 10 need
underlraInaee. It is quite common to
find springy places at the foot OF hills
aud higher up on them, and whenever
these occur one will find the surround
Ing land water logged" on account Of
an impervious SubSoIl. Just because
the land is quite slOping is no reason
that It should nor be drained, for In
his state they probably need drainage
IA much as The fiat bottom lands.
Kind Of Tile
There are several kinds Of tile on
The market, such MS cement. glazed
and porous tile. Round hard-burned
clay tile. cement or glazed are AL
good. but clay tile which is too por'
Gus is Objectionable, asst will not last
long. .. :
Size Of Tile.
The size Of the tile will depend upon
The fall and the area drained. For
mains five 10 six-inch. and for laterals
three to- fourinch will usually be
found most satisfactory.
The distance apart OF the tile de-
ponds upon the character Of the soil,
but usually 40 10 80 feet apart. laid
% depthof 10 31s feet, will he ef'
,ective for removing the surplus wa
Ter. The lowest ground should be Sc
lected for The main and put In Iaterals
through the wettest places first.