398 STATE BOAKD OF AGRICULTURE. 



not a fixed level, but fluctuates with tlie season. Some call the surface of the 

 water in a well the water line, but there may be levels aboA-e the well water 

 which will afford ilowiiif^ water, but not in sufficient quantity to permanently 

 raise the level of water in the well, in which case the water line would obviously 

 be above the water level in the well. 



The pliysical condition of a soil will be greatly affected by fluctuations in the 

 water line; when it comes very near the surface we have a swamp; when it is 

 only one to two feet from the surface, coarse wild grasses or sedges predomi- 

 nate; when it is from four to ten feet from the surface we have the best con- 

 ditions of fertility. It is to lower tlie water-line that the farmer resorts to 

 tile-draining, the benefits of whicli are too well known to be dwelt on liere. 



Plants derive most of their water from the capillary water of tlie soil — water 

 held by capillary attraction, that makes the soil moist but will not flow out of 

 the soil by the force of gravity. But it is found that most plants nuder favor- 

 able circumstances will send a few roots as water-feeders to the free water in 

 the soil in order to provide a supply when capillary water is deficient ; thus beets, 

 turnips, and many kinds of trees will often throw such quantities of roots into 

 tile drains as to obstruct them entirely. It is often found that the roots of 

 plants will extend to surprizing depths to reach the water-line to secure the 

 means for this provisional supply of water. It is obvious that tlie plant will 

 be in a better condition when the water-line is within a moderate distance from 

 the surface. 



In passing through the State from Saginaw to Ludington on the Flint and 

 Pere Marquette railway, from all that I could learn the wells are from fifteen 

 to thirty feet deep, showing that the water-line is within reasonable distance 

 from the surface. In passing north on Grand Rapids and Indiana railway to 

 Petoskey I found some circumscribed districts covered with a magnificent 

 growth of maple, where the wells are from seventy-five to one hundred feet 

 deep. At Mancelona I was told the well was seventy-five feet deep, and the 

 same at Alba. Judging from the large pile of grayish white sand which I saw 

 near the well at several places along the road I concluded that the soil from 

 surface to bottom of tlie well is non-coherent sand. I was informed that well- 

 diggers found no layers of clay in this peculiar formation, and often have to 

 curb the well walls from top to bottom to prevent caving. 



A soil of caving sand has little power to hold water unless it contains vege- 

 table mould. In these peculiar districts the water line lies very deep — so deep 

 that the hygienist would rub his hands for joy to find a region where the water line 

 is so deep that malaria is impossible and where the foundation is knocked out 

 from under consumption — but so deep that no water-feeding roots of any grain 

 can ever reach it. \yhile visiting this curious formation around Mancelona 

 and in certain parts of Wexford county, the question continually came up in 

 my mind. Will these heavily-wooded lands bear grain crops? Are the rains so 

 abundant and so well distributed that cereals will be provided with enough 

 water for vigorous growth? It may be answered that trees require water, -and 

 that they get a sufiicient supply is proved by the heavy forest growth. But the 

 tree is a conservative character ; its life stretches out into centuries ; it is never 

 in a hurry; its yearly growth is from earliest leafage to final frosts; it takes 

 the average of the year and of the years ; it has time to send its roots deep 

 and wide in search of moisture; if drouglit comes it has time to wait; if an 

 unfavorable year comes it can put over very active growth and wait for better 

 times. It is like a prudent farmer in hard times : it has only to live and wait. 



Not so with the cereal; one year must round out its life with success or fail- 



