Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1918-01-20
FARM DRAINAGE
 VERY IMPORTANT I
Enoineerina Advice On This Subject Can Be Secured From o. G. Fax
 ter, Old State House.

feTsdCi1g ana FaTH DlalHaSe fiie the subjects which ahouid attract the attention Of the land owners of Ark anSas at this season of the year. En- ginaering advice on these subjects can be secured for the asking by ap plying to 0. C. Baxter ar the Old State House, Little Rock. Ark. MI Baxter. who is the Senior Drainage Engineer for the U. s. Department or Agriculture in this district. Is Cn-ope- rating with the Extension Division or the University Of Arkansas. through the county agents, in an effort to De Of greater service to the people CT this state. In speaking Ot the need and value of proper farm drainage. Mr. baxter says:
 ''ln travelling over the agricultural districts of Arkansas and the sur lounding states. one is Impressed by the great amount of Wafte land that is due to d 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. It. is customary to blow ground tie 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 ns good drainage sys' tems.
 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 ill MiSsls- sippi state that drainage is one Of the main factors in the fight against the boil weevil, as thorough drainage allows the crop to be planted from 10 days to two weeks earlier i'll the spring and permits Elcre timely cultl- vation 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 the physical structure of the soil. After l drainage, the soil becomes looser, 1t | therefore is more easily cultivated and the surplus water readily passes l through the larger pore spaces. No 1 fear need be had of too much drain- age, as sufficient moisture for plant l growth remains. on the soil particles and cannot be removed by the drains. Drainage adds no plant food to the 1 soil, except the nitrogen thst 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 lnsoluble compounds and make them available for the use of plants. In this way 1 drainage increases the fertility of soils.
 In drained soil crops have deeper ] roots systems than do those on wet ] CT poorly drained soils. The roots ot most crops will not go into saturated i soil. aud will die if Kept iii water l without air for more than a 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 l where the water table remains long { enough to njure the roots. In wei soils the water table is high during the planting season and early groWtf Of the crop. The root system adapts itself to this depth and later, when the ,il'y season comes on and the soil wa ter is 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 a hindlance to cultivation. Tilt drains which empty into either opel or closed outlets most nearly provide 1 such a system. With the open-ditcf
 system, much valuable land is occu
 pied, the drainage is seldom thorough and the ,iitches become filled and have
 to be frequently cleaned. Oper | GltCueS occupy q COASANCiopAS PSl SSA
 of the area drained.
 Taking all factors into considera
 tion tile drains are more economica
 in the end even though they are more
 expensive to install. There is no req
 son why the tile drainage system
 properly constructed, should not re
 main in proper condition and give sat
 isfacton indefinitely.
 Tn order that the best results ma,
 be obtained from a drainage system
 il is essential that it be properly de
 signed One not experienced in thi
 kind of work should noq take the re
 sponsibilty of planning any consider
 able expenditure for drainage. Com
 plete surveys and examinations shoul'
 be made in order to determine tn
 most practical and economical plan
 Construction work should be careful
 ly done in order that the tile shall b
 laid in strict accordance with tn
 grades established by the ensinee