CHAPTER XIII 

 PRACTICAL DRAINAGE 



DURING the early years of irrigation in America no 

 provision was made to remove the excess water that always 

 collects in the lowlands of irrigated districts. This is one 

 of the chief reasons for the accumulation of alkali. The 

 modern up-to-date irrigation system should include some 

 method of drainage whereby any excess of water is carried 

 out of the land; for there are always a few farmers who, 

 to the detriment of themselves and their neighbors, use 

 too much water. A drainage system laid out at the same 

 time as the irrigation system will in some cases be more 

 simple than one installed after the land becomes a bog. 

 In swampy places drain ditches are constructed with 

 difficulty and tile cannot be laid evenly and securely. 

 Unfortunately, the reclamation of most alkali land is not 

 undertaken until after the condition has become bad. 

 This means that many difficulties are encountered. Of 

 course it would not be wise to install drainage when the 

 irrigation system is put in unless there is likelihood of 

 water-logging. The problem is doubly complex since not 

 only must the excess soil water be removed but the alkali 

 must also be washed out. 



Advantages of Drainage. Where drainage systems are 

 installed on land there is generally a complete transforma- 

 tion; many conditions favoring crop growth are improved. 

 Most important in an alkali soil is the removal of the 

 excessive salt. In many soils where the salt content is 



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