Draining the Lands 369 



matter of dilapidated fences and buildings, poor drainage, 

 weedy fields and slovenly appearance, than of exhaustion 

 of plant-food. 



1. THE AMELIORATION OF THE LAND 

 Land that is " quick " is in good physical condition. It 

 is finely pulverized, "mealy," mellow, deep. It is un- 

 profitable to apply expensive plant-food to poorly tilled 

 and intractable land. The first efforts, therefore, must 

 be given to drainage, tillage, the addition of fiber, rotation. 



Drainage. 



The best drainage is provided by nature; that is, land 

 naturally well drained comes into condition more quickly ,- 

 as a rule, and is in more continuous good tilth than that 

 which it is necessary to drain artificially. However, the 

 very best results may be secured by a good system of tile- 

 drainage. 



Underdraining is practiced for two purposes — to carry 

 off the superfluous water, and to improve the physical 

 structure of the soil. All low and boggy lands need to be 

 drained for the first purpose. Very stiff clay lands, which 

 are normally dry and hard, usually can be much improved 

 by a good system of underdrains. The reason of this is 

 simple. If water stands long in clay lands, it tends to 

 cement or to puddle the soil. If the superfluous water is 

 quickly taken off, however, this cementing or puddling 

 does not take place. The soil is thereby looser or more 

 friable. This friable condition enables the soil to hold 

 more moisture than when it is liard and brick-like. It 

 therefore results that draining to remove the superfluous 



