Sharp County record., 1918-01-18
FARM DRAINAGE
VERY IMPORTANT
Engineering Advice On This Subject
Can Be Secured From o. G. Eax-
ter, Old State House.


the subjects which should attract the
attention of the land owners OF Ark
ansas at this season Of the year. En-
eineering advice on these. subjects
can be secured for the asking by ap-
plying to o. G. Baxter at the Old
State House, Little Rock, Ark. Mr.
Baxter, who is the Senior Drainage
Engineer for the U. S. Department OF
Agriculture In this district, is co-ope-
rating with the Extension Division OF
the University Of Arkansas, through
the county agents, in an effort to be
of greater service to the people or
this state In speaking Of the need
and value of proper farm drainage,
Mr.. Baxter says:
"In travelling over the agricultural
districts of Arkansas and the sur
rounding states, one is impressed by
The great amount of waste land that
is due to a lack-of proper drainage.
This lack Of drainage is indicated by
the growth of coarse grass and weeds,
and By sickly, thin, and stunted crops
where attempts have been made at
cultivation. II is customary to ploW
around the wet spots, thereby incur
ring loss on account of cultivation
methods in addition to that due TO the
poor quality Of the crop. The yield
can be increased on many farms that
are entirely under cultivation by the
construction Of good drainage sys-
TENS.
The effect of later planting and
slower growth due to lack Of drainage
is also apparent in the harvest, espe'
cially where the crop must be made
before the drouth begins. Some OF
The largest cotton planters Ia Missis-
sippi state that drainage Is one OF
the main factors in the fight against
The boil weevil, as thorough drainage
allows the crop 10 be planted from
10 deys to two weeks earlier in the
spring and permits more timely culti'
walton, thereby resulting In an earlier
maturing Of the crop.
Tile drains will not only dry and
warm land that is wet and cold, but
they have a marked effect upon tho
physical structure Of the soil. After
drainage, the soil becomes looser; 1t
therefore is more easily cultivated
and the surplus water readily passes
through the larger pore spaces. No
fear need be had of too much drain.
age, as sufficient moisture for plant
growth remains on the soil particles
und cannot be removed by the drains.
Drainage adds no plant food 10 tho
soil, except the nitrogen that certain
plants gather from the air and that
replaces the surplus water between
the soil particles. But the warm air
circulating through the soil induces
the growth OF bacteria that release
certain food elements from insolublc
compounds and make them available
for the use Of plants In this way,
drainage increases the fertility OF
soils.
In drained soil crops have deeper
roots systems than do those on wet
o. poorly drained soils. The roots Of
most crops will not go into a saturated
soil, and will die IL kept In water
without air for more than q short
time. The root system does not ex'
tend to the depth at which the soil Is
permanently wet, but only to depth
that Is somewhat above the stage
where the water table remains long
enough to injure the roots. In wet
soils the water table is high during
the planting season and early growth
OF the crop. The root system adapts
itself to this depth and later, when the
dry season comes on and the soil wa
ter Ia lowered, the plants suffer from
drouth and for want Of food,
The most practical drainage system
is one that Is adequate, permanent,
uses the least possible land, and Is
not n hlndranco TO cultivation, Tile
drains which empty into either open
or closed outlets most nearly provide
puch system, with the open'dtch
system, much valuable land ls ooeu'
plod the drainage is seldom thorough,
and the ditches become filled and have
10 bo frequently cleaned, Open
dItches occupy q considerable per cent
Of the area drained ...
Taking all factors into considern'
tion tile drains are moro economical
IN the end evon though they are moro
expensive to install, There is no roN'
son why The tile drainage system,
properly constructed, should not re'
main IN proper condition and give sat
iaraoton indefinitely,
In order that the beat results may
be obtained from drainage system,
II ID essential that It be properly do
signed, one not experienced In thlB
Kind of work should not take The re.
fponsibilty of planning any consider.
able expenditure for drainage Com
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