O CIRCULAR 303, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



This examination indicated a saturated condition of subsoil in the 

 orchards which is very unfavorable for tree growth and fruit produc- 

 tion, especially if it occurs during the spring when growth should be 

 most rapid. 



Defective drainage is due (1) to the accumulation of water in small 

 basinlike and depressed areas with no adequate outlet; (2) to smooth, 

 flat areas in which heavy, nearly impervious clay or rock beds are 

 reached at slight depths; and (3) to the occurrence of nearly imper- 

 vious layers of gravelly, sandy, and clay till, which consists of an 

 unassorted mass of small angular pieces of red sandstone, larger 

 somewhat rounded boulders of various kinds, sand, silt, and clay, all of 

 glacial origin. Fine sandy loam and fine sand of lacustrine origin are 

 also in places so compact that they restrict moisture movement. 



Poor drainage of low-lying and depressed areas results in dark- 

 colored surface soils high in organic matter, and light-colored upper 

 subsoils, from which the coloring matter has been leached. The 

 light-colored layer is also sandier because a large part of the more 

 soluble minerals has been leached out and the nearly insoluble silica 

 remains. 



Lack of drainage in some of the low-lying areas is due in part to 

 character of the subsoil. Where this consists of mottled plastic 

 sandy clay or of compact till, ground-water movement is very slow, 

 and drainage either bv means of tile or of open ditches is slow and 

 difficult. 



Lack of drainage in other places is often due to obstructions caused 

 by roads, fences, field boundaries, and lines of trees crossing natural 

 but not very well defined drainage ways. Cultivation of the fields 

 has also caused the filling up of lower areas, thus checking the natural 

 drainage. 



Much might be done to improve the drainage of such areas by 

 removing the obstructions and by the use of tile and of open ditches. 



Provisions for drainage have thus far been almost entirely at the 

 expense of the individual landowner. In many cases such measures 

 cannot prove effective because deep master ditches are needed and 

 can be constructed only through the cooperation of landowners or 

 by the formation of drainage districts. 



By such means poorly drained areas can be improved and prevented 

 from beco min g larger. Adjacent lands would also be benefited, but 

 it is doubtful if any area of dark-colored poorly drained soil with 

 light-gray upper subsoil in this district can be made sufficiently safe 

 to justify its use for commercial orchard planting. 



Owing to the uneven surface of the impervious subsoil material, 

 poor drainage is not confined to low-lying or to flat areas. Soils 

 from which the surface water quickly disappears after rainfall are 

 not necessarily well drained. Poorly drained areas may occur on 

 the tops of ridges or on the slopes. Soils which may seem to have 

 a well-drained surface often have poorly drained subsoils. Ridges 

 and uplands, where defective drainage is caused by the impervious 

 condition of the subsoil, can be made suitable for orchard planting 

 by providing good surface drainage only. 



This unfavorable condition is made worse by the uneven surface 

 of much of the lake-shore district. Slight depressions with inter- 

 vening ridges and mounds are common. Smooth, uniform slopes are 

 unusual. Run-off is seriously checked, and the water goes into the 

 subsoil. 



