THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE OF AMERICA. 



753 



MORE ABOUT DRAINS. 



Editor, Gardeners^ Chro.xicle : 



I read with interest Mr. Miller's article on land drain- 

 age in the September number of the Chronicle, and also 

 Mr. Jenkins' remarks thereto in the October number. 

 Before proceeding further may I say "why the sarcasm"? 

 Is it because JNIr. Miller had the temerity to e.xpress his 

 opinion on the subject, or was it because he alluded to 

 your tar-paper covering on the pipe joints. Mr. Jenkins, 

 that got you "riled" ? You shouldn't let little things like 

 that annoy you — remember, "sarcasm" is not argument. 



I have had considerable opportunity to study drainage 

 from many angles at first hand and indorse Mr. Miller's 

 contention that there is no average depth, and when Mr. 

 Jenkins states that 95 per cent, of all drains should be 

 laid at a depth of four feet, he is wide of the mark. Cir- 

 cumstances alter cases, and to contend that four feet is 

 the rule is as bad as rule of thumb. 



There are over forty miles of drains on this estate, and 

 the average depth is 2^^ feet, and though quite a number 

 have been laid eighteen years, all are doing the work 

 satisfactorily. Most of the sub-strata is hard shale. 

 Four feet would be wasteful, as our experience with this 

 shale has demonstrated that drains have to be placed at 

 frequent intervals of space. To elucidate, I might say, 

 that to lay the drains over forty inches in depth was 

 found to give no better results than the two and one-half- 

 foot drain, as it is of a very retentive nature and the area 

 drained by the deeper one did not prove practical. It is 

 a well-known fact — where the nature of the soil permits — 

 that a four-foot drain will take care of a greater area 

 than one placed higher, but the above instance I have 

 cited shows an exception to the rule which Mr. Jenkins 

 wishes us to accept. 



In draining land where clay is found, we have to be 

 governed by the nature of it to determine what the proper 

 depth should be. A safe rule to be governed by is, the 

 more sand in its composition, the deeper it can be laid. 

 With clays of a plastic nature, where the percentage of 

 sand is small, three feet would certainly be more prac- 

 tical. Climatic conditions is a factor that should always 

 be considered in work of this kind. My knowledge of 

 these conditions at Leno.x would require that drain should 

 be laid deeper than is necessary here. 



Xow as to "the unkind cut," as Mr. Jenkins terms it. in 

 referring to stone drains. I fail to see it. A properlx- 

 laid stone drain where such an expedient may be resorted 

 to, is on a par with an\' drain tile. Can Mr. Jenkins cite 

 an instance where one of this description has been a fail- 

 ure? My personal observation of this system failed to 

 reveal any, and I have seen a great many that were old 

 before my time, and apparently as good as when laid. 

 His theory about soil particles filtering down between the 

 interstices seems to be founded on prejudice. The soil 

 would have to filter down at a rapid rate indeed to stop a 

 drain of this kind, as we assume there is water continually 

 moving which of course automatically keeps the space 

 clear. It is quite evident that he is prejudiced against 

 this system, and when prejudice overcomes a man, he is 

 not in a position to deal fairly with any subject. It is not 

 to be inferred from my remarks on the stone drain that I 

 advocate this system to the exclusion of the pipe drain, 

 as both have their good points. 



Mr. Jenkins' opinion on several subjects is provincial ; 

 in other words, confined to his experience in his present 

 position, for which reason bis viewpoint is circumscribed 

 as evidenced by the ideas he expressed in Horticulture 

 last .Spring, particularly his opinion on "bleeding vines," 

 which to the younger generation was very misleading. 



I would suggest to Mr. Jenkins that in future, when he 



writes to enligliion llie profession, he handle the sub- 

 ject in ;i more general way. Let not his vision be so 

 obscured by conditions as they exist under his personal 

 observation as to make it impossible for him to see or 

 appreciate the varied conditions of other estates ; besides, 

 to completely disregard the opinions of others, is a con- 

 vincing [JToof of the weakness of an argument. 



A. A. M.VCDONALD. 



Somerville, X. I. 



A SUCCESSFUL FIRST ATTEMPT. 



The accompanying illustration of three fine l)looms of 

 "William Turner" is a photograph of the results of the 

 first efforts of James Rust, ganlener to Charles Page, Sand 

 Springs, Oklahoma, to grow chrysanthemums in that 

 State. It is hardly necessary to say that his expectations 

 were more than realized. Mr. Rust reports that the plants 

 were grown in a bench with soil (three inches deep) of 

 red clay with the addition of sheep manure and bone meal. 

 The summers in Oklahoma are very trying for chrys- 

 anthemum culture, the thermometer in the house where 

 the blooms were grown registering over 130 degrees with 

 the glass shaded for more than six weeks. The blooms 

 measured 26' _, inches in circumference. 



There is so little good in the best of us, and not so 

 much bad in the worst of us that it behooves the best of 

 us to seek nothing but the good in the worst of us. 



"WM. tirner" i\ oKr..\noM.\. 



