DRAINAGE. 21 



10. It facilitates the germination of seeds and insures a -better stand 

 of crops. 



11. It makes work easier, decreases the cost of production and in- 

 creases the income from the farm. 



\~1. Drainage is one of the most important factors in the develop- 

 ment of our agricultural resources and is therefore of far 

 reaching influence in its bearings on civilization. 



Methods of Drainage. 



Land may have natural or artificial drainage. 



A river system represents a natural method of drainage. 



Water is often drained and carried through sand, gravel 

 or porous rocks to lakes or streams. 



The artificial method of removing water from the soil may 

 be accomplished in two general ways : 



(1) Drainage through open ditches and tile drains, to facilitate 



percolation. 

 ('2) Surface culture, to hasten evaporation. 



The rapid drainage of water through tile and ditches into 

 streams and their tributaries often adds to the rapid rise and 

 destructive effect of water in flood districts. 



The Opea Ditch. 



The open ditch system of drainage has many objectionable 

 features, such as the following : 



1 . Ditches become filled up. 



2. There is great expense in cleaning. 



8. Fields often have to be cut up into small and irregular tracts.. 



4. Open ditches hinder the use of improved machinery. 



5. They make cultivation and other work more expensive. 



6. There is also the loss in areas occupied by ditches. 



7. Standing water in open ditches is unsanitary. 



8. They are almost constantly in need of repair. 



9. They are dangerous to laborers and live stock. 



Advantages of Tile Drainage. 



1. A good system of tile drainage will last a life time. 



'2. There is but little expense in maintaining a tile drain that has 



been properly constructed. 

 3. The increased production of crops will in a few years more than 



pay for the cost of tile drainage. 



