26 

 DRAINING. 



The draining of land for orchards and vineyards is too often ignored 

 in the Australasian colonies, and this neglect is productive of serious 

 evils. A good many people seem to be under the impression that 

 because the rainfall is very uncertain in this part of the world, and we 

 are subject to prolonged and severe droughts, that the longer the land 

 will hold the water the better. This, however, is a wrong conclusion, 

 as well drained land actually retains moisture for a longer period than 

 when undrained. At the same time, it has a more even temperature, 

 being higher in the winter than undrained land, which is an advantage 

 to trees. There is also less danger from late spring frosts when land 

 is relatively dry and warm, as compared with cold wet ground. 

 The main objects to be attained by draining are : 



1st. To provide a quick outlet for surplus water that would otherwise 

 remain in the land for a long period. 



2nd. To allow the rainfall to pass through the soil more freely, 

 carrying with it valuable fertilizing matter, by preventing water from 

 stagnating in the sub-soil. 



3rd. To allow the air to pass into the sub-soil more freely, to act upon 

 the plant food, and make it available for use. 



Water stagnating in a soil or sub-soil makes the land cold, sour, and 

 wholly or partially unworkable for a time. Then again, an excess of 

 water causes the exclusion of air, and without a good supply of that 

 element the plant food will not become soluble. It must also be 

 remembered that the small roots of plants often suffer severely when 

 growing in ground that is in a soddened state for long periods. Then 

 again, when the rainfall can pass through the soil freely, the land gets 

 the benefit of the ammonia, carbonic and nitric acids that it contains, 

 and these are valuable materials. 



Modes of Draining. Necessarily the system adopted in draining land 

 must vary according to the local conditions, and the means at the 

 command of the cultivator. Pipe drains are decidedly the most effective 

 and durable, and where the materials can be obtained they are the best. 

 But in many localities pipes will be too costly, and other materials must 

 be used, such as can be readily obtained. Stones broken to the size of 

 two or three inches make very good drains, and will remain effective for 

 years. These drains should have a layer of sods, with the grassy side 

 downwards, placed above the stones. Slabs make excellent drains, as 

 do also saplings and small branches of trees when covered with sods. 

 In laying drains, care should be taken that they are deep enough to be 

 well below the reach of cultivating implements. It is also advisable 

 that the drains should be a little below the depth to which the land has 

 been worked, so that they may draw the water freely. As to the 

 distances apart for drains, much will depend upon the nature of 

 the ground, its conformation, and other local conditions. Stiff soils, 

 as a rule, will want drains closer to each other than ground of a more 

 open texture. Then again, land that is nearly level will require drains, 

 to be a less distance apart than in the case of sloping ground. The 



