Good Results of Draining m ^-^JiV 

 Vf ^ % >- ^^ 



For explanation of the beneficial influences of onii^O/S, 

 ing. v.e must endeavor to realize some of the conditions^*" ■-■•*' 

 of plant life. One of these is moisture at the roots. If 

 dramage were attended by a complete withdrawal of all 

 the permanent moisture of the soil, no one would be its 

 advocate. Some imagine that wherever executed it is 

 to the detriment of the land's capacity for production, 

 though increasing its capacity for being cultivated. 

 They say "more tillable is not more fertile. Tile drain- 

 ing is a craze. Wholesale rules without discrimination 

 are a curse. Drained lands are not invariably better 

 than the same lands undrained," etc. 



But we maintain that in all soils not naturally well- 

 drained (and so not requiring it) draining does as much 

 good by promoting m.cisture during periods of drought, 

 as by removal of the surplus water, which would other- 

 wise destroy the productive capacity of the land. This 

 is due to the fact that the deeper tilth and pulveriza- 

 tion of the drained lands enable them to hold in 

 saturation, as water is held in a sponge, valuable stores 

 of water to be given off a little at a time, as needed, 

 and also to draw up from below, by capillar}- attraction, 

 similar timely supplies — while all excess and surplus 

 is promptly gotten rid of. 



A recently published work by A. X. Cole contains 

 suggestions of interest in this connection. We have 

 suggested that the most perfect drainage does not aim 

 at a complete withdrawal of all the moisture ; water is 

 essential to plant life, but the land must not be 

 drowned with water. Air and water both must be 

 presented to the feeding roots. He savs, ''tilled land 



