FARM DRAINAGE. 59 



underdrained, is an excellent illustration of the effect of drainage 

 in lengthening the season and enabling plants to withstand cold. 

 I usually find it dry enough to work the last week in February 

 or first in March, and though mercury often goes down to within 

 ten degrees of zero after it is planted, I have never lost hardy 

 vegetables, such as peas, cabbage, beets, etc. In the fall, also, 

 corn, tomatoes, and lima beans usually remain green for weeks 

 after they are killed on flat, wet lands of the neighborhood. 



On soils well underdrained, there will be less damage from 

 washing and less waste of the manure dropped by the stock, 

 for the earth will take more water and less will run off at the 

 surface, and water that percolates through the soil, leaves 

 much fertilizing material which would be lost if it flowed off 

 in the runs. 



Drainage prevents winter grain and clover from freezing out, 

 for this is not ordinarily caused by simple cold, but by the ex- 

 pansion of the soil, which freezes when full of water and breaks 

 the roots, thus destroying the plants. 



The claim that drainage prevents failure of crops in both 

 wet and dry seasons may seem paradoxical, but a little study 

 will, I think, make the matter plain. It is easy to understand 

 how it helps land in a wet season, but to many it is not so 

 clear how it will help in a dry season. It enables the farmer 

 to thoroughly pulverize the soil. A fine surface acts as a mulch 

 which retains the moisture ; also, by capillary attraction it draws 

 moisture from below. This principle of capillary attraction is 

 illustrated by the lamp-wick which draws up the oil. Our most 

 severe droughts often follow exceedingly wet weather, and the 

 land saturated with water cannot be mellowed in time, but 

 bakes and dries and ruins the crop. On the other hand, the 

 drained soil discharges its surplus water through the drain much 

 quicker, and leaves the land in better condition, and it can be 

 planted or cultivated enough sooner, so as often to make. all the 

 difference between a good and poor crop. On the drained soil 

 the roots will extend to a much greater depth, thus enabling 

 the plants to endure drought much better than if they were near 

 the surface. 



