THE BEET-SUGAR INDUSTRY IN THE UNITED STATES. 23 
will run lengthwise of the field, thereby avoiding the crossing of the 
ditch in the usual farming operations. The size and depth of the 
open ditch will depend upon the length and fall of the ditch, the 
location of the subsoil, the amount of water to be carried, and the 
position of the outlet. It should always be deep enough to prevent 
any interference of the water table with the crop to be grown. 
The blind ditch. — The most satisfactory method of artificial drain- 
age is the blind ditch. In the construction of this ditch tile is used 
most commonly. Many fields that otherwise would not yield profit- 
able crops have been reclaimed by the blind ditch. These ditches 
should be laid out very carefully with reference to direction, depth, 
and slope, so that the entire area under consideration will be drained 
thoroughly. The size of the tile is very important. Tiles that are 
too small must never be used. This is false economy, and it frequently 
results in added expense in that the small tiles must be taken up and 
replaced with larger ones. The tile should be large enough to carry 
off the water quickly in times of excessive rainfall, deep enough not 
to be disturbed by the plow or other implements, and laid so care- 
fully that the ends will fit against each other evenly and a gentle 
and continuous fall provided, without depression or elevation. 
The outlet of the blind ditch should be kept open that the water 
may flow freely. 
SEEPAGE. 
Seepage is closely related to drainage. Many fields or areas that 
otherwise might be profitable for crop production are rendered use- 
less by seepage. This is especially noticeable in those areas where 
irrigation is practiced. Seepage is detrimental to the soil in several 
ways: (1) As a loss of water, especially in cases where water has 
been stored for irrigating purposes, and (2) through a loss of the 
use of the land, either because the soil is too wet for crop production 
or because of the accumulation of soluble minerals which are brought 
to the surface through seepage. The injurious soluble minerals 
usually are known as alkali. 
Seepage from streams. — Some streams are so located naturally that 
a portion of the water seeps out into the adjacent soil, forming 
marshes or waste places due to excessive moisture ; this is especially 
true where the fields adjacent to the stream are low, level, or under- 
lain with an impervious subsoil. The nature of the bank of the 
stream is of importance in this connection. If the overflow at flood 
time is prevented by the construction of dikes the land may be 
made productive by drainage. Usually these marshlands when 
drained are very fertile and produce good crops, though they are 
not always the best for sugar-beet production, since they sometimes 
produce large roots low in sugar. 
