The Springdale news., 1918-01-18
FARM DRAINAGE
 VERY IMPORTANT
Engineering Advice On This Subject Can Be Secured From O. G. sax-
 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. gineering advice on these subjects can De secured for the asking by ap plying to O. c. Baxter at the Old State House, Little Rock, Ark. MT Baxter, who is the Senior Drainage Engineer for the U. s. Department o' Agriculture in this district, is co-ope rating with the Extension Division of inc University of Arkansas, through the county agents, in an effort to be of greater service to the people of this state Tn speaking of the need and value of proper farm drainage, MT. Baxter says:
 In travelling over the agricultural districts of Arkansas and the sur rounding states, c1e is impressed by the great amount Of waste land that is due 10 lack Of proper drainage This lack of drainage is indicated by the growth of coarse grass and weeds and bv sieklE. thla. and @tuneed eeeps where attempts have been made al cultivation | is customary to ploW around the wet spots, thereby incur ring loss on account of cultivation methods in addition 10 that due to the poor quality of the crop. Tie yield can be increased os many farms that are entirely under cultivation by the construction of good drainage sys- tens
 The effect of later planting and slower growth due 10 lack of drainage is also apparent in the harvest, espe- cially where the crop must be made before the drouth begins. Some of he largest cotton planters it Missis- sippi state that drainage is one Of the main factors in the fight against the boil weeyil. as thorough drainage allows the crop to be planted from 10 days 10 two weeks earlier in the spring and permits more timely culti- vafioa thereby resa:dng 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. il and the surplus water readily passes through the larger bore spaces No fear need be had Of toe much drain age. as sufficient moisture for plant growth remains on the-soll particles and cannot he removed by the drains.
 Drainage adds no plant food to tha soil. except the nitrogen that certain plants gather from the air and that replaces the surplus water between the soil particles But the warm a5f circulating through the soil induces the growth of bacteria that release certain food clements from msoluble compounds and make 'hem available for tha Use of plants. In ti5is way. GIalnaee increases the ferllny of soils.
 In a drained soil crops have dec9er roots systems than do those on Wet q poorly drained se4ls. The roots of n.asf crops ait Eo5 20 intoa saturated soil and wa. die f kept in water wlaont air for mole than a short time The root system does not el. tend to tAe depth at which the soil it permanently wet, but only to q depth that is somewhat above the stage where Inc water t8ble remains long enough to injure tae roots. Tn wet soils the water tabia s high during the planting season and early growth of tfe crop The root system adapfs itself 10 this depth and later, WHen the dry season comes oa and shc soil Wal Ger !. lowered, tha plants suffer from droHih and for want of food.
 The most practical drainage system is one that is adequate permanent. uses The least possible land. and is not 3 hindraHce 10 cultivation Tile drains which empty into either open CT elesed outlets rHs-t nearly provide such a system. With the open difeh system. mHch valuable land i. occu. pied, the drainage is seldom thorough. and the litches become filled and have to be frequently cleaned Open diiches occupy oisidorable per cent Of the area drained
 Taking all factors into considera tion tile drains are more economical in the end even though they are more expensive to install There is no req son Hhy the tile drainage system, properly constructed. should not re- main in proper condition and give sat isfaction indefinitely
 In order that the best results may be obtained from drainage system. il is essential that it te properly de. signed. One not experienced in this kind of work should not take the re- Pponsibility of planning any consider. able expenditure for drainage Com plete surveys and examinations should be mada in order to determine tho rost practical and economical plan. construction work should be careful ly done in order that the tile shall ba laid in strict accordance Wiih tho erades esfahliSh1 b Inc engineer Who planned the work.