Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1921-08-09
AMONG THE FARMERS.
"srnrD TEE pLow."
Make Wet Lands Pay Dividends.
MUCH CULTIVATED LAND Is IN NEED o.
DRAINING.

The effect OF too much moisture is
readily apparent In farming wet area,
although persons not acquainted with
drainage do not always recognize the
presence Of too much wfter In soils that
are not saturated. The low part OF the
field is not ready for plowing and plant
Ing az early In the spring ss the higher
parts; hence, unless the spot is to be
abandoned, the farmer either must fn'
ish the task another day or leave the
whole until such time 40 the wet place
can be worked. Planting on ell or part
of the field is then delayed frequently z
to 10 days later than on land better
drained.
UNFRAMED LAND Is SLOW TO WARM UP.
The wet ground Is cold, too, and the
seed In It sprouts more slowly. The DIFF
ference between the two parts Of the two
fields continues to grow az the season
advances; the undrained land frequently
can not be cultivated until several days
after heavy rains, and again ooldness re.
tsrds crop growth, as In the spring. The
difference in temperature may be to
10 degrees between the drained and the
uudrained soil. The effect Of later plant
ing and slower growth must be apparent
in the harvest, especially whore the
growing season 10 cut short by frost. On
q field not uniformly we'll drained the
crop will mature unevenly and not only
will the yield be impaired in amount,
but II uneven in quality the crop will be
rated for market at low value.
Farm drains may be either open ditches,
or tile, or q combination Of the two.
The "blind bitches" of stones or poles
covered with earth have been practically
abandoned because they are not perma
nent, usually becoming clogged with
earth in q few years. Open bitches are
usually less costly to construct, especially
when large capacity 10 required, and wa
ter on the ground surface will fow into
them more readily, but for the smaller
drains tile has q number Of advantages.
Open bitches interfere with oultiva-
tion, especially where large machinery is
used, but tile are buried deep enough to
be out of the way of farming operations.
The whole field may be cultivated when
underdrains are used, but q system of
open bitches necessarily takes up much
tillable ground. There are other draw
backs, too, to the use of bitches, among
them being the need for constant care
due to washing of the soil and the growth
Of weeds. They cause, too, 10 many in
stances an appreciable loss of fertility by
washing away the fertilizer.
Before any expenditures are made
there should be q careful survey and ex.
animation to determine the source of the
water to be removed and It's amount, the
most economical arrangement of the
drains, the grades obtainable, the proper
sizes of drains, and the amounts of tile
and labor. The cost of the work can
thus be estimated quite closely.
Sometimes only . few drains are
needed In the lowest parts Of the field;
sometimes uniform system is required
with parallel lines underlying the whole
area. In the latter instance experienced
judgment is needed to decide what will
be the proper depth and spacing for each
kind of soil. Drains 100 feet apart when
they should be only Is will not give good
drainage; drains 4 feet deep may be al
most an utter failure where 3-foot depths
would be markedly successful; II spaced
80 feet when 80 feet Is sufficient the cost
may be 25 per cent more than necessary.
A FREE FLOW FROM THE OUTLET.
OF prime Importance Is the outlet,
which not only must be the lowest point
of the drainage system, but go located
and arranged that 1t will discharge water
at the time when drainage is needed and
not be useless because of high water in
the outlet ditch Or creek. The construc-
ton work should be carefully done, un.
der the supervision Of someone at least
qualified to see that the tile are laid
properly. 1t 10 advisable to have CON-
pstent surveyor or engineer to aid in at
least the leveling.