4i ROOTS. 



retentive soils usually within a foot or two of the surface. This stagnant 

 water not only excludes the air, but renders the soil much colder, and 

 being •in itself of no value, its removal to a greater depth is very 

 desirable." And to accomplish the object, under-draining must be 

 resorted to. 



Evidently some soils require more expense than others ; a clayey 

 sub-soil requires much deeper, and a greater number of drains than in 

 fields where the soil is of a more loamy character ; again, we must be 

 governed by the surrounding lands ; if the field has the wash of adja- 

 cent fields, it is plain that a drain should be constructed to receive the 

 water that flows from the lands above, and cross drains from the same. 

 The cost of making drains in this neighborhood, from two and one-half 

 to three feet deep, and stoned with common field stone, is about one 

 dollar a rod where the work is done by hand labor alone ; but the same 

 amount may be done at much less expense by using oxen and plows ; 

 throe furrows are first cut about six inches deep, and the sod removed ; 

 two plowings more may be made with the same plow, and the earth 

 removed at each plowing, thus making the excavation about fifteen 

 inches deep ; after which the sub-soil plow may be used by having a 

 yoke of sufficient length that the team may walk on both sides the 

 drain, and two plowings more can be made in most of our soils ; by this 

 means a great amount of labor is saved in the excavation, — at least 

 one-half. 



The work of under-draining and the use of the sub-soil plow is as yet 

 but little known. Properly draining and removing the stagnant water, 

 renders the soil drier, warmer, and more friable ; it leaves the pores and 

 fissures open, thus affording a free circulation of air ; and the rains that 

 fall carry the fertilizing substances to the roots of the plants, thus 

 causing a vigorous growth. 



How many farmers have noticed — or rather how many have not 

 noticed low, wet, sunken cavities when working these fields, and who 

 has ever noticed in such locations a good crop of any plant cultivated ? 

 It is also noticeable that when the field is seeded to grass the cultivated 

 grass roots are soon " worked out " and a poorer quality occupies the 

 place. Now when this water is once removed, those parts of the field 

 produce more abundantly of any crop that may be grown ; proving 

 pretty conclusively — on a small scale — the effects of field drainage. 



It is also known where deep rooted plants are cultivated on reclaimed 

 meadow, if the water in the ditches stand within six or eight inches of 

 the surface, thus far will the roots extend, but they refuse to go farther, 

 which indicates that the standing water is pernicious to the plant. 



THE SUB-SOIL PLOW. 



This farm-implement, — although not very extensively used, — may 

 be considered a co-worker with under-draining ; those who have used 

 it, best know its results ; — it serves to mellow and loosen the soil 



