SOILS. CROPS AND FERTILIZERS. 



35 



Farm Drainage 



To prevent alkalinity of soil by re- 

 moving a superabundance of soluble 

 salts. To keep a good circulation of 

 air in the soil. To make soils warmer. 

 To carry away excess of water. To 

 conserve a sufficient amount of soil 

 moisture. To give an earlier seeding 

 period. 



Conditions Requiring Drainage. 



Comparatively flat lands on which 

 water from the surrounding higher 

 lands collect. 



EJxtremely flat lands underlaid by 

 an impervious layer of clay. 



On extremely open soils where 

 drainage will cause a more compact 

 condition and then aid in retaining 

 a greater quantity of water. 



Deep drainage increases the grow- 

 ing depth of the soil by lowering the 

 water table. It increases available 

 moisture by causing a greater upward 

 trend of the water low down in the 

 soil. Soils are made warmer because 

 being more aerated the warm air is 

 allowed to penetrate to a greater 

 depth. 



Making a Survey. 



The Departments of Agriculture for 

 the different provinces of Canada will 

 survey the farm, and then supply plan 



of drains, location, cost, size of tile 

 and all necessary information. Cost 

 for survey is nothing, except the ex- 

 pense of boarding surveyor and sup- 

 plying help to make the readings. 

 Applications are attended to as they 

 are received. 



When the survey is made a plan of 

 the system is sent by the surveyor. 

 The meaning of the different lines 

 and figures is somewhat hard to un- 

 derstand. Accompanying is a fac- 

 simile of a drainage plan and the fol- 

 lowing information explains it: 



Explanation of Plan. 



Dotted lines starting from station 

 2, N.E. end, shows the figures 18.0 ft. 

 It means that the land tracing along 

 that line has an elevation of 18 ft. 

 Look at the elevation to the east of 

 the 18 ft. contour; they are all less 

 than 18 ft., hence the low land is to 

 the east and the high land to the 

 west. The next contour west shows 

 an elevation of 19 ft. and hence there 

 is one foot of fall from this to the 18.0 

 contour. The black lines indicate 

 main drains and run through the low- 

 est places possible. A change in grade 

 is shown by the black triangle. (See 

 cut.) 



Distance Apart of Drains. 



Drains should be at least three feet deep, 50 to 66 feet apart in clay and 

 66 to 100 in loam. In very heavy clay, as close as 30 feet. 



Influence of Drainage on Time of Seeding.* 



Table showing difference in dates of seeding drained and undrained land as 

 reported by 26 farmers who have drained. 

 Difference in Seeding Time. Number reporting each Per cent. 



Difference. 



19.2 

 15.4 

 65.4 

 50.0 

 30.8 

 23.1 

 15.4 



THE RIGHT TILE TO USE. 



A good drain tile should be hard burned, giving a clear ring when struck. 

 Soft burned tile, which gives little or no ring when struck, are much more 

 liable to crumble down under the action of frost. Clay containing pebbles of 

 limestone will dissolve in water, and should not be used. Tile should be smooth 

 and straight with square cut ends and true circular outline, so that the joints 

 may be laid fairly close. 



