The Nevada County picayune., 1916-02-24
SOIL AND SOIL FERTILITY.
No. 4. Farm Draiaaqe.
By De F. Hungerford, Assistant Az ronomist, University of Arkansas.

The question of retaining the swampy lands of this state has been occupying the attention of lawmakers, farmers and business men for many years. Several important drainage districts have been organized and pro posed which, when completed, will change hundreds of square miles of land that is now unproductive into the most productive land in the South. These are we'll known facts and no one attempts to belittle or deny the value of such reclamation projects in increasing the states re- sources. It IS not so we'll known. however, that the yield on thousands of acres of land that Is now being farmed could be greatly increased by adequate drainage. Almost every farm has some land that is too wet for the highest crop production. Too much water is as injurious to crops as not enough. Many farmers realize that parts of their farm do not pro- duce as much as would be expected, but they fail to recognize that the trouble may be due to poor drainage
 How Drainage Benefits the Soil
 Drainage enables the plant roots to penetrate into the soil. The plant roots will not penetrate soil that Is saturated with water, so if the sub soil is too wet all the plant food that it contains is unavailable. When crops are planted on poorly drained land the root systems are shallow When a drought comes the surface dries out quickly and the crop suffers In well-drained soil, on the other hand the roots go down deeper into the subsoil which dries out more slowly and the crop is able to resist q temporary drought.
 A well drained soil warns up quick CT in the spring because the heat from the sun is not used up in evapo- rating surplus water. Crops can therefore be planted sooner which is an important point in a region of summer droughts. Where land is well dralned it is possible 10 cultivate quickly after every rain thereby de- stroying weeds while they are young
 The physical condition of soils is much improved by drainage. This IS due partly to the fact that the surface dries out rapidly thus promoting gran ulation and partly to the deep roofing and more abundant growth of plants. Drainage induces better aeration be- cause as the water drains down into the sub-soil air is drawn down to take it's place. The air thus drawn into the soil helps make plant food availa. ble, promotes the growth of beneficial bacteria. assists in the formation of humus and destroys toxic substances or poisons that may exist there.
 Drainage With Open bitches.
 Open ditches provide the best means water are to be taken care of as in the reclamation of large swampy areas. They can also be used to ad- vantage when 1t Is necessary to pro vide an outlet for water in a small depression. Open ditches can be con structed more cheaply than under ground drainage systems. but are less permanent and must be frequently re- paired They are unsightly. occupy land that could otherwise be used for growing crops, and. as usually con- structed, provide a place for weeds.
 When 1t is necessary to use open ditches for financial and other req sons, they should be constructed with wide sloping banks gotten into sod so they can be moved for hay and to of open ditch is the dead" furrow. This is adapted to land that is nearly flat The field is plowed in narrow beds with deep dead" furrow be- tween the higher intervening spaces.
 Tile Drainage.
 The drainage of farm land can be obtained most efficiently and perma. sently by means of tile laid under ground. Two kinds of tile are in use
 clay and concrete. Clay tile is used more extensively. being usually cheaper and more eashy handled. Concrete tile is satisfactory. however. if 1t can be obtained as cheaply. For making concrete tile rich proportion of cement and good sand should De used and they should be mixed as wet as is practicable, The proper depth for laying the tile varies with the tex ture of the soil and the distance the lines are apart The depth usually varies from two to two and half feet. being laid shallow in clay soils and deeper in sandy land.