The value of underdrainage in a dry season was well illustrated in 1914. Beginning 

 with September, 1913 (when the soil began to store water for the next crop), and ending 

 with August, 1914, the year was one of the driest, if not the driest, on record in Ontario. 

 The rainfall was below normal in autumn, winter, spring and summer* the total defici- 

 ency being almost six inches. Yet from eight Drainage Demonstration Plots, sicuated 

 in different parts of the Province, we found that in every case on the drained half of 

 the field the crop was much better than on the undrained half, the average difference 

 in money value being $14.12 per acre, and that in one of the driest years on record. 

 The year 1911 was also a dry one, and the difference obtained from reports by twenty- 

 five farmers well distributed was $16.37 per acre in favour of drained land. 



The type of season in which drainage gives least results is one similar to that of 

 1915 in Ontario, i.e., a dry spring followed by moderate rains during the growing season 

 and sufficient during the ripening for proper filling. In most parts of the Province during 

 the year 1915, it was not till about harvest time that the rains became excessive. The dry 

 spring facilitates seeding so that even the undrained land is sown in good condition. 

 The moderate rains during the growing season keep the plants thriving well all the time 

 even on the undrained land. The average returns from fourteen demonstration plots 

 for 1915 show a difference of $4.48 per acre in favour of the drained land. But the 

 rain during harvest was so excessive that in many localities some of the grain on low 

 land could not be cut. With the underdrained land there was no trouble of this kind. 



The greatest results from drainage are secured in years with excessive rains in the 

 spring and early summer and drought during the latter part of the growing season. In 

 such seasons, germination and early growth are retarded, the root systems are small 

 and lie near the surface, the leaves turn yellowish and sickly in apppearance, and the 

 plants, generally, become stunted. Later when the drought comes, the weakened roots 

 cannot grow deeper as fast as the soil becomes dry; consequently it is only a few days 

 until the plants show signs of wilting, indicating that they are suffering from lack of 

 moisture, and the crop is a meagre one at best. On drained land, seasons of this type 

 give good crops, and reports of farmers show that the average difference in value, 

 taking various kinds of crops and different degrees of benefit, will run over $20 per 

 acre in favour of the drained land. 



Drains should be laid about two and a half to three feet deep, and about four rods 

 apart where systematic drainage is required. For drainage in a small way, the shovel, 

 pick and drainage plow are used for excavating purposes, but in larger undertakings 

 traction ditchers are now widely used. These cut a ditch full depth, true to grade, 

 ready for the tile in passing once over the ground. For laterals, three or four inch tile 

 are laid, depending on whether the fall is ample or scant, and for mains four to twelve 

 inch for individual farms. For community drains even larger than twelve inch tile 

 are frequently used. 



The average cost of draining land throughly, i.e., with a drain every four rods or 

 thereabout, will range from $25 to $35 per acre depending on local conditions. It will 

 be seen that even when results are least, as in 1915, ($4.48 per acre), drainage pays 

 from 12 to 18 per cent, on the money invested. In average years the returns range 

 from 35 to 50 per cent. 



The amount of drainage required in Canada is immense. In Ontario we estimate 

 that of the cleared land about one-third or nearly 5,000,000 acres is in urgent need of 

 drainage, while considerably more would be the better of it. Besides this, there are 

 large quantities of slash, swamp and marsh which might be reclaimed by drainage — 

 probably one-quarter of a million acres anyway. And these figures refer to old Ontario 

 alone. Much of the clay belt of new Ontario also will require drainage before it will 

 produce to its full capacity. In Quebec and the Maritime Provinces, where the rainfall 

 is greater than in Ontraio, drainage is even more needed, likewise in parts of British 

 Columbia; while in the eastern portion of the prairie provinces come a number of 

 enquiries showing that some drainage is needed even there. 



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