TENTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK-PART X 553 



and loses, for wet land never will raise good crops unless tiled. He shrinks 

 from a 6 per cent mortgage and loses a crop worth from 33 to 100 per cent. 

 Mortgages placed on rich wet land have nothing horrible about them. 

 They can easily be tiled off. 



SOURCES OF WATER. 



1st. From rain falling on the field. This is beneficial in watering the 

 soil. 



2d. Spring or seep water. This is injurious and should be kept far 

 below the surface by tile drains. 



3d. Surface water running on from land above. 



LAXDS NEEDING DRAINAGE. 



Lands needing drainage show their need by signs that can easily be read. 

 Of these signs may be mentioned: Standing water on the surface. Water 

 under but near the surface as shown in post holes, crawfish holes and test 

 holes that may be put down. Boggy places with tussocks of grass and 

 holes and bumps made by tramping of stock. Slough grass, especially in 

 meadows and pastures, where slough grass comes in and tame grass dies 

 out. Wet strips in plowed land when all should be dry and of nearly the 

 same color; these are probably kept w'et by spring places below the sur- 

 face. Mossy and mouldy appearance of the ground. Heaving and freezing 

 out of tame grasses, clover and winter wheat. Land that turns up stiff 

 and slick when plowed and dries out hard and cloddJ^ Wide cracks in 

 the soil when dry result from the pasting together of the soil when too 

 wet. Feeble, yellow stunted crops that were prevented by wet subsoil 

 in their early growth from taking deep root to find moisture sufficient to 

 withstand the sun's heat in time of drouth. 



LAYING OUT THE DRAINS. 



Before beginning the work it is well to prepare plans for complete 

 drainage of the whole field. Much imperfect drainage has been done and 

 poor returns realized by beginning without having plans for future work. 

 With these plans the work can be done, a part at a time as is convenient. 

 Begin at the outlet, which of course should be at the lowest place, and 

 look the whole field over. Set a long stake at each turn and where each 

 hranch line is to join the main. Go over the lines again and make such 

 changes as wall improve the plan. Make all lines as straight as can be 

 to keep them in the places needing drainage. The source of the water as 

 well as the amount must be taken into consideration. Not only the shape 

 of the surface but the nature of the subsoil must be studied. Springy 

 places with tight clay subsoils must be treated differently from places hav- 

 ing porous subsoil. In draining springy hillsides it is best to lay the lines 

 on the sides of the slough w^ell up the hillsides to catch the water before 

 it comes near the surface. After all the lines have been located the size 

 of tile, the fall and depth may be determined. 



