266 MISCELLANEOUS FARM SUBJECTS 



lands may be reclaimed to a high state of fertility. The saturated 

 condition of the land which shows injury is not due to the water 

 which is applied directly to irrigate it, but to the surplus which 

 percolates from higher land. The value of understanding the fun- 

 damental principles of drainage in preventing the injury of lands 

 in irrigated sections, and reclaiming them to agricultural use, cannot 

 be overestimated. (F. B. 187; Kept. Office Ex. Sta. 1910; F. B. 

 371.) 



Methods of Draining. A. series of small wells located at points 

 where the water appears have proved effective in some sections. 



The wells consist of curb boxes 12 inches in diameter, made 

 with eight sides, from boards 1 inch thick. They are sunk from 8 to 

 12 feet deep, the excavations 'being made with a large auger. The 

 wells have underdrain outlets about 3 feet deep, leading to a surface 

 ditch. The water rises at once in these wells to the height of the out- 

 let provided and flows away. The soil, which is about 5 feet deep, 

 is underlaid with gravel, which through the process of seepage from 

 higher lands has become surcharged with water which by reason of 

 constant pressure and continued supply from land occupying a higher 

 level saturates the soil above the gravel. Its efficiency consists in 

 relieving the pressure of the underground water at such a depth that 

 it will not continue to force itself upward against the soil. 



No little discussion has arisen concerning the utility of ce- 

 ment tile for draining seeped lands, especially those which are 

 strongly charged with alkali. The scarcity of well-burned clay tile, 

 as well as of good clay for manufacturing them, in regions where 

 they are most needed, makes it desirable to use cement if it is pos- 

 sible to do so. The evidence furnished by tiles which have been in 

 operation is conflicting, some having remained intact for 10 years 

 and still manifest no sign of disintegration, while others apparently 

 as well made have failed within a year. Those who have experience 

 in the use of this material maintain that if tiles are molded from a 

 mixture of one part good cement and three parts of the aggregate 

 used in a wet state, they will resist injury by alkali. The varieties 

 of alkaline salts which are found in seeped lands is so great, and 

 their possible combinations are so numerous, that the use of cement 

 tile for draining such lands is attended with considerable risk. Ex- 

 perience so far suggests that the pipes should be made dense and 

 practically nonabsorptiye if they are to be safely used in water 

 which contains a considerable amount of alkaline salts from the 

 soil. Even clay tiles which are soft or poorly burned should be dis- 

 carded on the score of probable disintegration if they absorb water 

 freely. What are known as seconds at sewer-pipe factories are ex- 

 cellent for draining and are quite commonly employed where tiles 

 of large size are needed. 



Wooden Box Drains. The subject of material which is used 

 for drains should not be passed without reference to wooden boxes, 

 which, of necessity, are employed in many localities because more 

 lasting material can not be obtained at a reasonable cost. They 

 serve an excellent purpose while they last and have been exceedingly 



