156 SOILS 



in the summer, when hot and dry weather is the rule, 

 but for a period so short no paying crop can result. Na- 

 ture is too slow here and your work will be unsatisfactory 

 and unprofitable, if you depend upon her, alone, to drain 

 areas naturally wet. Better not do it. Use tiles in- 

 stead. The first noticeable difference, after drainage is 

 done, is the lengthening of the growing season : work 

 may be begun earlier in the spring and it may be extend- 

 ed far into the autumn. This means that stagnant water is 

 removed from the land, both in the spring and in the fall, 



A WAY TO HELP THE DRAINAGE 

 Plowing clay in eight-step lands 



to the advantage of your work, your crop, and yourself. 

 You can handle, often, well-drained soils three to five 

 weeks earlier than like soils in an undrained condition. 



Tillage is more easily done. Soils are injured fre- 

 quently (if not ruined for the time being) by tillage 

 operations, if done when the land is wet. It is perfectly 

 evident, therefore, that a soil undrained, either naturally 

 or artificially, makes all tillage operations a burden, and 

 the work a drag. 



