The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1916-04-14
Drainage.


Among the various operations where
by land which is naturally unfit for cul-
tivation can be improved. there is none
quite so important as artificial drainage
In nearly all parts of our country there
is land which, is entirely or partially
unfit for cultivation on account of the
presence of water. Healthy growth of
most plants depends upon consider
able depth of soil containing capillary
water only Roots require air as we'll
as water and they cannot find air in
sufficient quantity in soils which are too
wet.
The kind or character Of the subsoil
has great deal to do ia the natural
drainage of the land If the subsoil is
of IA stiff hard, clayed soil, through
which. the water canuot percolate it
must be drained artifically.
The water of the soil is divided into
three classes: hYdrostatic or ground
water, capillary water and microscopic
water. There is also surface water and
some times the only subject in drainage
is to carry off this water. Of the three
kinds of soil water. artificial drainage
affects only the hydrostatic or ground
water, which is that portion of the
water of the soil which stands in the
spaces between the particles and which
is not held by the attraction of those
particles. By artificial drainage the
water table is reduced to the level of
the drain provided they are close
enough together.
The benefits derived from the drain
age of soils which need it are: it
deepens the soil. lengthens the season
both for plant growth and for work,
makes all tillage operations easier and
improves the tiith, reduces the liability
to injury of crops from drouth; pro-
notes tie better termination of seed,
results in the production of larger crops
of better quality and decreases the risk
of failure of crops, reduces the amount
of surface wash, makes it possible to
haul heavy loads over the fields, pro.
duces better sanitary conditions, and
decreases the number of mosquitoes
and malarial diseases. Thorough drain
age and through tillage are the main
points in land improvement.
The roots of our farm crops are re-
stricted to that portion of the soil above
the water table and if the land is in
adequately drained it leaves a compar-
lively small portion of the soil for dis
trbution of the, roots. Wherever the
roots go they feed, and it is self evident
that the larger the volume of soil in
which they develop the larger the
amount of food extracted by the roots
It is evident that so long as water
| fills the spaces between the soil par
tlcles, air cannot find its way into it to
any great exte Mt. =
The plant food contained in many
manures and fertilizers is not available
when applied to the soil. Before it
becomes available these manures and
fertilizers must be exposed to natural
agencies, among which is the oxygen
of the air.
AS the amount of water in surface
soil is lessened by drainage it warns
| more quickly, and since the evapora-
ton is lessened, maintains a higher
m thrnunh0ut no
season than before drainage.
Insufficiently drained soil is not fit to
work until much later in the season
than that which is drained, and as the
days become short and the rains more
abundant in autumn, the insufficiently
drained sell becomes unfit to work very
late.
Wet soil cannot be brought into good
filth as neither the pillow, harrow or any
other implement will do good work.
The preparation Of the soil is far more
easier after drainage than before.
Probably one of the chief reasons
why plants on we'll drained soil suffer
less in drouth than before drainage is
because they are much more deeply
rooted. In wet soil the roots are de-
veloped near the surface and when the
soil is dried out the plant suffers.
For perfect termination fair amount
of moisture, air, and heat are essential
These conditions are best met with in
well drained soil containing fair
amount Of capillary water In wet soil
there is not enough air and the tenn
perature is apt to be too low for the
best termination OF seed.
Any land VIII be benefited by drainage
when any of the following conditions
exist: If, at any season, water stands
on the surface, or comes into the furrow
when blowing, Ii the water table dur
ing and part of the growing season is
closer than three and one half feet to
the surface. If any Of the water loving
plants predominant such as sedges,
rushes, and MOSES. !
Drains are divided into two classes.