240 
THE CULTIVATOR. 
THOROUGH DRAINING. 
Draining land fully and completely, is one of the great¬ 
est improvements of modern agriculture, and few things 
better display the advantages of a combination of science 
with art, than a well conducted system of draining. The 
necessity of draining land, arises from several causes, all 
of which have more or less influence on the productive¬ 
ness of the soil, or the value of the crop. Although 
moisture is absolutely necessary to the growth of plants, 
in excess of it is always injurious; and the extent of the 
injury is usually in proportion to the stagnancy of the 
water in which the roots are immersed. When soils are 
filled with water, air is excluded, and the consequent de¬ 
composition of animal and vegetable matter, so essential 
to the formation of the materials required for the growth 
ind sustenance of plants, is almost entirely prevented. 
3oils also, containing an excess of moisture, are of neces- 
fity cold, and consequently unfit for many kinds of crops 
which would grow well were the requisite dryness and 
warmth given. The difference of temperature between 
a soil saturated with water, and the same when contain¬ 
ing no more than is essential to the success of vegetation, 
varies from 6 to 8 degrees, according to the carefully 
conducted experiments of Dr. Madden and Prof. John¬ 
ston. When it is remembered that this difference in tem¬ 
perature would be decisive of the fate of some crops, In¬ 
dian corn for instance, the importance of a proper drain¬ 
age will be seen at once. A soil containing an excess 
of water, usually has a dense subsoil, a shallow soil to 
cultivate, and cannot easily be deepened, as drier soils 
can. They are therefore liable to pass from the extreme 
of too much moisture, to that of excessive drouth, and as 
the roots of plants are unable to penetrate the dense sub¬ 
soil, wet lands,or those liable at times to have an excess 
of water, usually suffer much more from drouth than 
deeper, drier ones do. There are other reasons for 
draining land that will readily occur to the practical far¬ 
mer, but these are sufficient to show the great utility and 
necessity of freeing all soils intended for cultivation of 
their surplus water. 
An excess of water in a soil can usually be traced to 
one of two causes; that which rises from springs, in the 
soil itself, or that which falls upon it in rain or snow. 
Except in some peculiar districts of very level country, 
or where the natural drains for the surface water have 
been obstructed, it will be found that excess of water 
usually arises from springs; and so general is this cause, 
that there are very few farms in our country, in which 
there is not more or less land that would be benefited by 
draining. The formation and direction of springs, is de¬ 
termined by the geological character of the country, the 
nature and dip of the strata, and their composition, wheth¬ 
er of rock, clay, gravel, &c. Water from the surface, 
falls or percolates downwards, until it meets with some 
impervious strata, and along the surface of this it flows, 
until it reaches the outcrop of that strata, or sinks through 
creeks and fissures to some still lower strata or level. 
When the water reaches the outcrop of an impervious 
strata,, springs are formed. If the quantity of water is 
considerable, it flows off in streams; if small, it only 
makes the ground wet and cold, frequently forming 
swamps, or otherwise rendering the soil unfit for cul¬ 
tivation. 
Figures 65 and 66, from Low’s Practical Agriculture, 
will show the nature of such strata, their action in form¬ 
ing springs, and the method of cutting them off" by drains, 
belter than a column of description. 
In fig. 65, the strata below the 
line from D. to E. denotes an im- 
impermeable strata. The strata 
from C. to E. ia the one contain¬ 
ing the water, flowing out at C. 
The strata above is pervious and 
the water sinks through it into 
the one below. From D. to C. 
is seen the swamp made by wa¬ 
ter from the range of springs at 
C. H. is a drain cut so high as 
to produce no benefit, as it does 
not reach the water bearing strata. A. is a drain that cuts that strata, but will not effectually cut off all the water, 
as the distance from C. to A. is too great. Experience has proved that in all such cases of wetness caused by 
springs, the true course is to cut the drain (( between the wet and the dry,” or a littlp above, as at C. on the cut. 
The drain G. will carry off all surface water, and being in the lowest part of the ground, the drains that cut off the 
springs at C. may be conducted into it. 
In fig. 66, is shown the manner 
in which several series of springs 
are formed on the same slope, or 
sometimes on the same level, and 
the necessity of cutting off each 
series by a separate drain, if we 
would effectually drain th 1 soil. 
Thus it is easy to see that a drain 
at A. would be of little use, as 
not touching the source of the 
evil at all. Cutting off the springs 
at D. would have little effect, as those at C. and B. would continue the difficulty; and a drain at B. would only take 
off the water furnished by the upper water strata. The only thorough remedy is to cut as many drains as there are 
series of springs, to spread their water over the land. 
Fig. 67 (see next page,) shows a front view of a sloping ground with a succession of wet or springy places on 
the surface, rendering it unfit for cultivation, and the manner in which the drains for conducting off the water and 
rendering the soil dry, were placed. The lower cut is a section of the same ground, exhibiting the impervious, 
and the water bearing strata, in succession, with the drains. In this instance, the water from the drains is conduct¬ 
ed into a brook flowing at the foot of the sloping ground. 
It not unfrequently happens that the land to be drained is level, and surrounded by hills or elevated grounds, from 
the base of which issue the springs that saturate and render useless the soil of the flat part. Most of the bog mea¬ 
dows, as such low lands are usually termed in this country, are made in this way; anil experience shows that when 
drained and rendered fit for cultivation, they are the richest and most productive of our soils. This indeed could 
hardly fail of being the case, as they have from time immemorial been the depositories of the vegetable matter and 
wash of the adjacent lands. In some cases, these low lands have a natural outlet or drain; if not, the most favora¬ 
ble point for one must be selected, which, if possible, should be at the lowest part of the grounds, that all (he drains 
necessary, may have a sufficient descent for the easy flow of the water. If this is not the case naturally, then the 
central or main drain must be made sufficiently deep at its outlet to permit the water to pass off without difficulty. 
The quantity of water to be carried off must determine whether the main drain is to be an open or covered one. 
If the quantity of water is large, an open drain is to be preferred; but if otherwise, it will be better that like the 
