CHAPTER III. 



DEAINING. 



The object aimed at with open surface -drains for 

 plantations, is to clear the surface of the ground of all 

 stagnant water, to a depth not necessarily exceeding 

 12 inches for pine and fir plantation, in order that 

 air may penetrate the soil, raise its temperature, and 

 enable the tree roots to enter and ramify throughout 

 its interstices. 



Trees, unlike cereal crops, when fairly established 

 in the ground, perform for themselves a very effective 

 operation of drainage ; for no sooner does the tree 

 rise to such height as the wind can move and shake 

 it, than it opens and loosens the soil on all sides, there- 

 by inducing the superfluous water to sink to a depth 

 beyond where it can injuriously influence the growth 

 of the tree. And in other ways trees are very effective 

 in drying the soil at all seasons of the year — viz., ab- 

 sorption by the roots, and evaporation by the leaves. 



The best indication as to whether the ground re- 

 quires drainage or not is probably that of the her- 

 bage growing upon its surface. Any one acquainted 

 with natural grasses knows which are produced under 

 the influence of stagnant water, and which are the 

 product of dry soil. 



