VERMONT AGRICULTURAL, REPORT. 35 



might irrigate a meadow on a lower level, at slight cost and ample 

 reward. Relatively light soils, and grass lands in particular, are 

 benefitted by irrigation and, moreover, are less likely to be in- 

 jured thereby when, as of course at times happens in humid 

 climates, a heavy rainfall follows closely upon the heels of a 

 liberal application of irrigation water.^ 



DRAIN AGi:. 



Too much water is as serious a fault as is too little water. 

 Plant roots need air as much as they do water, and a water-logged 

 soil, one in which the pore spaces are water filled instead of air 

 and water filled, is ill fitted for the growth of an adequate quantity 

 or a satisfactory quality of a crop. The roots are drowned as 

 effectually, in the same way and by the same means, as is an 

 animal. The larger part of Vermont soils are not in serious need 

 of underdrainage. Their open subsoils or uneven topography 

 provide for it. While large areas would doubtless be the bet- 

 ter for it, it is equally beyond doubt that in most cases the cost 

 of thorough underdrainage would exceed the value of the land. 

 Brooks-states that it cost fifty dollars an acre to drain a medium 

 compact Connecticut valley soil, laterals 35 to 40 feet apart and 

 three and one-half feet deep, but remarks that this is an overhigh 

 figure. English writers estimate the average cost at half this 

 sum. Either is an almost prohibitive sum in view of the present 

 price of Vermont farm lands. ^ 



TILLAGE. 



The commercial fertilizer does one thing— it furnishes avail- 

 able plant food to plant needs. It does that one thing very well — 

 if it is a good fertilizer — but it is only one thing. Tillage does 

 manifold things ; things chemical, physical, biological ; increasing 

 soil fertility, modifying soil texture, augmenting soil life, conserv- 

 ing soil moisture, discouraging weed growth. That tillage in 

 some degree does what the commercial fertilizer does, has long 

 been recognized. That fineing the soil meant increased surface 

 exposure of soil particles and their more ready solution ; and that 



^Such readers as may care to pursue the matter further should send 

 to the United States Department of Agriculture, Washington, D. C, for 

 Farmers' Bulletin, No. 46, on "Irrigation in Humid Climates." Free 

 for the asking. 



= Agriculture, Vol. I, p. 175 (1901). 



^'Such readers as care to pursue this matter further should send to 

 the United States Department of Agriculture at Washington, D. C, for 

 its Farmers' Bulletin, No. 40, on "Drainage." 



