SIXTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK— PART VIH. 905 



•wet. not muddy. Pour the water principally by the wall. Treated in 

 this way each bunch will bleach white and force a growth in the cen- 

 ter of each of the most crisp and delicious quality. It will be the voice 

 of all who eat, "I never ate such before". Be sure to keep it moist, 

 be sure to keep it from freezing, and you will be sure of success. 



LOCATION OF TILE DRAINS. 



W. ir. STEVKXSOX. SOIL SPECIALIST, IOWA AGRICLT.TURAL COLLEGE. 



Within the past few months, thousands of corn-belt farmers have 

 determined to drain their farms or at least portions of them. Many of 

 these land owners have had comparatively little experience in the actual 

 work of tile draining and hence there is lively interest at present in the 

 subject of the location of tile drains. 



The factor of chief importance is an adequate outlet for the drain- 

 age system which it is proposed to construct. The outlet may be a 

 natural stream of an open ditch, but it must be large enough and so 

 situated that ample provision will be afforded for the removal of the 

 water discharged by the drains. 



The farmer should then determine how thoroughly he proposes to 

 drain his land and should locate the drains with reference to the nat- 

 ural wetness of the land. In this relation he should determine about 

 how much water comes to his tract from the surface of the higher 

 land near by or from the seepage from slopes. 



If portions of the tract to be drained are as dry by reason of natural 

 drainage, as it is planned to make the other portions the drj- areas 

 should be passed by and the drains should be located in such num- 

 bers in the wetter areas as will assure a uniform degree of dryness 

 throughout. In this connection it is well to note that in many instances 

 the land which is thought to have sufficient natural drainage is really 

 not well drained when compared with that which has been thoroughly 

 tiled. When land is worth as much per acre as it is at the present 

 time, the most thorough drainage is in the line of economy. 



The main lines should be located in the course of natural surface 

 flow. However, due care should be exercised to straighten the line of 

 natural drainage by short cuts here and there whenever this can be 

 done without impairing the efficiency of the drain. This work often 

 materially lessens the cost of construction and a line of tile laid in 

 straight courses joined by curves is always to be preferred to one which 

 follows all of the curves and crooks found in natural depressions. The 

 following disadvantages attend a crooked line: The tile are laid less 

 perfectly and with greater difficulty; there is added friction of the run- 

 ning water against the walls of the drain; a greater number of tile 

 are required to accomplish the same purpose and there is a loss of grade. 



It frequently is true, also, that there are swampy areas and sloughs 

 in the tract which can be reached with a main drain more economically 



