PUTTING THE SOIL IN CONDITION 121 



from tramping out its life in the fall, winter and 

 spring seasons of the year. 



It will not be amiss to say something about the 

 method of applying these different soil medicines, 

 and how they may be procured. 



As to drainage there can hardly be too much of 

 it, and it should be done even in the absence of 

 water upon the soil, for we have shown that its 

 object is not only to remove water but to get air 

 into the soil. 



Drains should be constructed of porous tile, 

 preferably cement, not less than six inches in di- 

 ameter, laid at a proper depth, and so constructed 

 that both ends of drains will be open, and if of 

 any length, manholes with iron open tops should 

 be constructed near the center of the main ditch 

 line, which will secure the quick passage of water, 

 preventing the deposit of sediment in the tile that 

 always occurs when water saturated with soil sedi- 

 ment slowly passes through tile. And drains con- 

 structed in this manner admit the free passage 

 of air through them, and open up spaces or pores 

 in the soil for passage of air and water, and thus 

 perfect soil ventilation is secured. 



The securing of a supply and application of 

 organic matter and humus to worn soil is not so 

 difficult as it may seem. It can be secured by con- 

 serving and plowing under of weeds that escape 

 cultivation, cornstalks and application of barn- 

 yard manure. But supplies of these three are 

 never secured in sufficient quantities on any soil 

 to supply the need of organic matter and fur- 

 ther and more adequate supplies must be obtained 



