METHODS OF DRAINING lEKIGATED LANDS. 501 



ume of water which causes saturation ; and, second, the capillarity of 

 the soil is such that if the free water of the soil is not kept low, mois- 

 ture containing alkali will be brought to the surf-ace and the salt 

 deposited when the moisture disappears as vapor. Again, the plan 

 of using a few well-located and deep drains to intercept the under- 

 flow before it reaches the land which requires drainage is not com- 

 monly employed in regions of plenteous rainfall for the reason that 

 in the latter case drainage consists in removing the surplus water 

 which falls directly upon the field, while in the former it is the re- 

 moval of the surplus underflow Avhich percolates from an adjoining 

 tract of land. 



The method of draining by relief wells, which has been described 

 quite fully and its value emphasized, is but the adaptation of what 

 is known as the Elkington system to the drainage of irrigated lands. 

 The method of tapping underground springs, which cause seeped and 

 boggy lands, by means of wells, was originated by Joseph Elkington, 

 of Warwickshire, England, in 1765, and was introduced in Sweden 

 by George Stephens in 1800, with most excellent results. In 1795 

 Parliament voted Elkington £1,000 in appreciation of his services in 

 discovering and developing a method of draining which had proven 

 of great value to the Kingdom. In profiting by this discovery, which 

 is so applicable to the betterment of our saturated irrigated lands, 

 it is only fitting that we give Elkington due credit. 



The developments of the last few years have forced upon our atten- 

 tion the necessity of draining and at the same time have increased 

 our confidence in the practicability of reclaiming seeped lands and 

 of restoring them to their former productiveness. It is quite clear 

 to the careful observer that the application of the various methods 

 which have been described will soon be extensively practiced in many 

 sections of the irrigated West. 



