The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-05-03
'UNDERDRA|NAGE
VIRGINIA LANDS
Polytechnic Institute Comes to
Aid of Farmers in Work
of Draining.
MOVEMENT FOR BIGGER CROPS
Men in Field to Help at Very
Little Cost to Land
Owners.

under drainage of much OF the farm
land In the State Of Virginia which
for years mas been of little value Tor
agricultural purposes, the deinohstta-
ton department OF the Virginia foiy
cechnic Institute at Blackspurs put
in tho field OH May two nen VINO "iil
be available for making surveys and
plans OF any land mat the Virginia
turner's may wish TO Drain. Tho only
cost 10 the farmers viii be the travel
ing expenses OF these men and their
board while thoy are In charge OF TINS
work.
Tho subjeot of land-draInage is at
tracing more widespread attention
throughout tho country ct the present
time than ever before, and the farmers
are beginning to realize that the pro-
fits from Il large portion or their land
can be greatly increased by good
system of drainage.
Lands Requiring Artificial Drainage.
That much of the land is ineHiciently
drained by nature docs not need point
ing out Surface water, as is found
An ponds, gl"ughs, etc, Is a suihcient
indication of the necessity Of under
drainage the cases pointed out below
Indicate whore drainage can be used
TO advantage:
/. Low spots in the field which are
slow In drying out after heavy rains.
end on which the crops arc either a
martial or an entire loss, would De
greatly benefited by proper drainage
That many soils not 80 easily recog-
nized as needing drainage would be
greatly benchtted by such an improve
ment should be moro generally under
stood.
2. Calculating ne,ds with abundant
Hurface slope often require frequent
drains because The soil is rctentiVe
throughout, or because of the irTegu-
4 iflt- xttla-
soil which occasions 'spouty' places,
or even springs upon an otherwise
arabic hillside.
3. The erosion OF hillsi6es with Its
injurious effects may often be wholly
or In part prevented by interceptins
the SUFFICE flow caused by preeipitous
rains.
4. Hill water may often be stopped
by interc 7ptine bitches and carried
around L fertile level field. thereby
greatly beneftt!ng 1t through the pro-
lection thus afforded
s. Level swamp la! Dis require consid-
cradle skill 10 provide a sufficient
amount of drains with uniform fall 10
remove surplus water.
6. River and creek bottom lands sub
: tcct 10 Overflow from the adjoining
stream, need careful draining after
they have been protected by suitable
lcyees
z. Feat EGGS aOC -!
muck lands call for particular attcn-
ton in their drainage IL they arc 70
be made productive.
Effects Of Drai,sagr Cpon Soil.
by removing sudplus water, air -
enabled to enter the SOIL and 1t is
due to this acration OF the entire bod
of the ground above the drains that
the other beneficial effects noted are
brought about.
Of these. greater depth OF soil is the
first result seen. Only the soil In
which air circulates can he uied by
ordinary agricultural crops All the
processes or plant life depend upon air,
End in its ,h-cnce the soil becomes TN
ert. Its deeper penetration into the
soil at once opens up the latter and
snakes It available TO plant life To
whatever depth the air reaches.
An extended range Of roots is at
once made possible hy this increase in
the depth CT the soil. Tho more ex-
tended the root system Of all pianta the
greater vigor of growth the plant will
Rave.
An Improvement In the texture OF the
soil Is soon noticed. The drying out
OF the water logged particles and
grains affects the massins OF them In
such manner ~ to change the struc-
ture Of the soil. causing it TO become
moro friable and easy OF culture.
An increase In temperature is brought
about Water is much more difficult
to heat than tho solid matter OF ths
soil Hence the less water in the soil
the moro quickly il Is warmed. An
ether cause of tho Increased Temporal
ture is tho lessening in evaporation
from 10 dry soil. "A difference in tenn
perature of from to 10 degrees In
undrained and drained soil is often
noticed. a very material aid to seed
termination and all the processes OF
pIent life. A well-drained soil is
warm and quick
1t has been found that drainage pro-
notes the activity OF nitrogen En Their
ing bacteria- The discoveries by soil
investigators of the presence OF BAG
terra In the SOIL which play an Inn
portant part In the preparation of
plant food. throw added light on the
effects produced by drainage. and ex-
plain more fully the remarkable re-
,ults often obtained
Now as to the practical benefits re-
sulting from drainage:
Drained land is ready for seeding
earlier. AS the ground thaws the Wa
ter Is at once carried down to the
drains, together with that from the
melted snow and ice on the surface.
The result naturally is that the soil
IS much more quickly dried out, with
y corresponding increase in tcmper;t-
tnre, and II is often found to be fit
Cor cultivation from one to three weeks
earlier than unttToined land
Crops begin healthy growth at
once. The right an cunt OF moisture
and heat terminate the seed promptly.
the tiny rootlets find oxygen 1T hand,
plant food prepared as they need It,
and an open soil into which they can
Z push :hcir way with little or no re.
sistance.
Fertilizers are not wasted by surface
washing. Fertilizing gasses held in
the air and artificial fertilizers applied
to the sail are carried by rains di-
rectly into the soil instead of passing
OFF over the surface.
~ Crop, arc better able to Withstand
drought The greater depth of soil
and the extended range OF roots, to-
gether with. change in the texture