CLEARING FARM LAND 



17 



Mutm-^^^mLM 



Figure 10. 

 Dragline Excavator Widening a Dilch on Soi! Conservation District Drainage Project. 



Drainage 



The need for drainage of pasture, hay, or crop land has been a problem on 

 practically every farm in Massachusetts. In many cases ditches and brooks 

 have become so clogged with silt, grass, and weeds that water has backed up on 

 pasture and crop land. Many acres of land have become unproductive and 

 efficiency of farm operations has decreased because of the difficulty of using 

 farm machinery on this wet land. 



Restrictions on the sale and use of dynamite during wartime prevented the 

 blasting of ditches for farm drainage and the cost of using power shovels was 

 usually too great. However, records were obtained showing that ditches were 

 dug at a cost of 10 to 15 cents per linear foot and drainage was provided at a cost 

 of $15 to $25 per acre. In some cases insufficient drainage was obtained because 

 of lack of cooperation bj' neighboring farmers in providing a proper outlet by 

 continuing the ditch. 



In the spring of 1946, the drainage program for land improvement gained 

 considerable impetus when Soil Conservation Districts were organized and the 

 blasting of ditches was begun under supervision of the district. Dynamite was 

 purchased in ton lots to reduce the cost and a bonded operator was hired for 

 blasting. The work has consisted chief!}' of opening old ditches by blasting a 

 deeper and wider channel. The quantity of dynamite used has depended upon 

 the type of soil and the size of ditch needed to furnish sufficient drainage. A ditch 

 about 10 feet wide and 5 feet deep was blasted through a sandy loam soil by 

 placing a full stick of dynamite every 18 inches with a half stick between these. 

 On the same soil a lateral ditch about 6 feet wide by 3 feet deep was blasted by 

 placing one-half sticks at 15-inch intervals. Dynamite for the main ditch cost 

 10 cents per linear foot and for the lateral ditch 4 cents per foot. Total cost of 

 blasting these ditches and the charge for a tractor and grader to open smaller 

 ditches amounted to $20 per acre of cropland drained. 



