CHAPTER II 
DRAINAGE 
O soil can be put in good tilth without thorough 
N drainage. 
As well try to grow most crops with “ wet 
feet’ as to attempt to grow them on hot desert soils. In 
both instances they will die, because they are out of their 
proper environment. 
Moisture you must have to grow crops, but moisture 
overdone, un-does, 
It is as necessary for plant roots to breathe as human 
beings; shut off soil ventilation and you shut off free 
oxygen from reaching the plant roots, and the plant dies. 
There can be no soil ventilation when the soil is cold, 
compact and saturated with water. Hence the impor- 
tance of drainage, and thorough drainage. 
Drainage is of more importance to worn-out soils than 
it is to new soils. New soils are porous and water will 
easily percolate through them. 
Worn-out soils are hard, compact and non-porous. 
They are absolutely incapable of affording ventilation to 
plant roots. 
Drainage is one of the most effective methods of get- 
ting this needful soil ventilation. 
The more drainage in worn-out soils the better; no 
matter whether water is on the land or not, put into them 
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