Drainage and Larger Crops. 



453 



of the State are large areas of hill land which, by reason of particular 

 structural features, are too wet during some part of the growing season. 

 In addition to these two classes of land, there is throughout the State in 

 detached areas a large amount of swamp or marshy land which is now 

 useless for tillage purposes. 



These statements suggest that there are two types of land which 

 would be benefited by drainage : 



1st. Land which is continually submerged or saturated. This 

 includes the marsh and swamp land. 



2d. Land which is saturated or partially submerged during 



Fig. 27S. — Clay soil being pJozvcd in eight steti la)ids. The 

 " dead furroivs " serve as surface drains. 



some part of the crop season. This includes large areas throughout 

 the State now included in cultivated fields. It is always of uncer- 

 tain productiveness and its full productive power is seldom realized. 



Kinds of drains and their use. 



Two types of drainage may be used to improve wet land. These are : 

 ist. Open or surface drains ; 2d. Buried or under-drains, constructed 

 of tile, stone, brush, boards, poles or any other available medium. Of 

 the two types, the under-drains are always preferable where they may 

 be used and there are very few situations where they will not be effective. 

 In fact, their range of usefulness is far greater than is commonly be- 

 lieved. The best form of construction is the hard burned tile of sizes 

 adapted to the local conditions and buried at depths of two to four feet, 

 according to circumstances. They are very effective, long lived, without 



