LAND DRAINAGE 



draining 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 moisture during 

 periods of drought, as by removal of the surplus 

 water, which would otherwise destroy the pro- 

 ductive capacity of the land. This is due to the 

 fact that the deeper tilth and pulverization 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 capillary 

 attraction, similar timely supplies while all 

 excess and surplus is promptly gotten rid of. 



A published work by A. N. Cole contains sug- 

 gestions 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 says, 

 " Tilled land being porous, the air forces its way 



[17] 



