nearly to the surface, the roots will develop above the water line, keep- 

 ing near the surface. If, after the roots have attained their growth, a 

 drouth sets in, the water line is lowered several feet, but the roots having 

 ceased to grow, they are left in the surface soils in a helpless condition. 

 If, however, during the first few weeks, the water line is at or below the 

 tile, the roots will strike downward very rapidly, and when the drouth 

 does come, they will be in a territory containing moisture. It is re- 

 corded that during the terrible drouth of 1854 wheat, corn, oats and 

 other plants flourished and made a fair crop on tile-drained land, but 

 perished on land not drained. 



Drain Tile Improve the Soil Physically 



Drain tile naturally give life and vigor to the soil and such soils are 

 mellow and friable, water is absorbed more freely and capillary attrac- 

 tion is perfect. 



Low Ground 



If low ground is drained, it can be worked much earlier in the spring 

 or after heavy rains than undrained ground, and the danger of puddling 

 is greatly lessened. 



Drainage Prevents Surface Washing 



If sloping land is saturated with water, the soil is apt to wash in the 

 event of more rain. Drained soil will readily absorb the water as fast 

 as it falls, thereby preventing the loose soil from washing away and 

 forming gulleys. By running a few lines of tile at a gentle slope on a 

 steep hillside, gulley-forming will be prevented. 



Water-Holding Capacity of Soil 



Plants are benefited only by the water that adheres to the surface of 

 the soil particles, and any additional water is a detriment. Prof. 

 Schubler states that one hundred pounds of the following types of soil 

 will hold by attraction to the surface of the soil particles as follows: 



Sand 25 pounds of water 



Loam Soils 40 pounds of water 



Clay Loam 50 pounds of water 



Pure Clay 70 pounds of water 



Mr. Sheld states that the soil of ordinary density to a depth of three 

 feet will hold by attraction before any will drain away, 17 J inches of 

 rainfall. If drains are placed three feet deep, a square foot of surface 

 will receive 10.6 gallons of water before one particle would enter the 

 drain. Hence, it can be seen that drain tile do not rob the ground of 

 water that can be utilized, nor does it in any way exhaust that which 

 may be stored below the growing line. 



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