Box 14, Folder 11: Farm Drainage

[1860] FARM DRAINAGE. BY I. A. LAPHAM.

No person while passing along the public roads, in Wisconsin, in the early part of the season, can fail to observe that the growing crops present great unevenness of surface; on some parts of the fields they are fine and luxuriant, with good color— while on other parts of the same fields they are of scanty growth, yellow, sickly, and offer but poor promise of a future harvest. Often these sickly places occupy no inconsiderable share of the whole field. It will be found that these unsightly spots are almost always upon depressed grounds, where water has been allowed to stand on the surface and thus injure the crop. If we estimate that onetenth of the cultivated lands of our State are more or less injured in this way, and that these places yield but half as much as if not subjected to the deleterious effects of standing water, we shall see that one-twentieth, or five per cent. of our crops, are lost, with five per cent. of all the labor bestowed upon them, from this cause alone. Now if the yearly agricultural production of our fields be estimated at forty millions of dollars, which is probably less than the true amount, there is clearly a loss to the State of Wisconsin, attributable to these bad places, of two millions of dollars every year.

Here, then, is one item, apparent to everybody, showing conclusively the importance of what is called Thorough Drainage of lands; and this is only one of many items of the same kind that might be enumerated.

It needs no argument to show that wet lands are unsuited to the production of farm crops. An excess of water in the soil makes it yield less abundantly, and the yield is of inferior quality; it prevents the proper pulverization or mellowing with the plough and harrow.

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To this same cause is attributed the coldness of some soils, on which the crops are backward and of feeble growth, and therefore much more likely to be injured or destroyed by early frosts, insects or other causes. The evaporation of this surplus water produces the cold by absorbing from the soil the heat which is necessary to convert the water into vapor or invisible steam. It is one of the settled and most familiar principles of chemical science, that evaporation produces cold.

This coldness of the soil has precisely the same effect as if the land was removed to a more northern latitude ; the time when the ground is ready for the plough in the spring, being delayed several days, and the period when vegetation ceases in the fall being a week or two earlier. In the region of country between Lake Michigan and the Mississippi the mean temperature of the year increases, on going southward, one degree in a little more than half a degree of latitude ; and if therefore, by means of thorough drainage, the temperature of the soil can be increased five degrees, we shall have in the latitude of Milwaukee, the advantage, in this respect, that would result from removing our farms to the central part of the state of Illinois.

A soil saturated with water cannot admit the passage of air through its pores to the roots of plants ; and as some of the essential elements of healthy plant-growth are derived from the atmospheric air, by the roots, it is clear that such soils are of comparatively little value. None of the commonly cultivated plants can be produced profitably, unless air as well as moisture can penetrate freely the roots. Only weeds will grow in soils too wet and stiff to admit of these conditions.

Wet soils are found to be much more effected [affected] by drought than those that are more dry.

The "Salts of the Earth" and all fertilizing substances are prevented, by excess of water, from penetrating, and becoming a part of the soil ; such soils do not therefore become, by gradual accumulation, the store house of vegetable food, and cannot, con

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-sequently, honor the drafts made upon them when we attempt to raise a crop.

The water, by freezing and thawing in the winter, has another injurious effect ipon the roots of plants, breaking them, and severing their connection with the stem. This is the cause of what is familiarly called "winter killing", of which so much complaint is annually made.

Experience shows that stock running upon wet lands are much more apt to become diseased, and more constantly tormented by musquitoes and flies.

Physicians tell us that much of the fever and ague, so common in newly settled countries, as well as many other diseases are to be traced directly to the wet grounds, and to the coldness and dampness of the atmosphere about them.

All these evils being occasioned by a superabundance of water in the ground, it is quite evident that if this water can be removed, the evils will be avoided. The experiment has been tried, with the most complete success; the benefits anticipated, having been fully realized. In some cases, the additional products of one or two years have been sufficient to pay for the entire cost, while the improvement remains a permanent one, yielding its benefits through many successive years.

By a simple system of drainage, this surplus water can be easily and cheaply removed, and from what has already been said it will be clearly inferred that if the system should be generally adopted the annual production of our State will be increased five percent, amounting in the aggregate to millions of dollars; the products will be of better quality and consequently bring better prices in the market; the soil will be warmer, throwing the crops forward more rapidly, thus preventing many diseases, the destructive effects of insects, and the danger from early autumnal frosts; we shall have the advantages of a climate several degrees further South, and of a longer season of vegetable growth; the soil can be more thoroughly worked, and can sooner be prepared

14. Bulletin of the Wisconsin

In the Spring; it will be light and mellow, giving the roots an easy task to penetrate it, and afford easy access of the atmospheric air with its many important elements of plant-food to the roots; will prevent the growth of useless weeds; prevent in a considerable degree the injurious effects of droughts; enable the soil to absorb and retain, from the rains and from the atmosphere, rich stores of vegetable aliment, to be supplied when wanted for the growth of crops; prevent the winter killing of the grain crops, the dread of which has materially essened the amount of winter wheat, grown in Wisconsin; make a dry and healthy surface for the pasturage of sheep and cattle, and moreover add materially to the healthiness of the State.

These benefits may be secured to a single field, farm, or district of country, without reference to a general adoption of the system for the whole State.

If any one thinks the above an overdrawn picture, let him purchase at the bookstore any of the recently published treatises on the subject (that of H.F. French, published by A.O. Moore & Co., N.Y., is perhaps the best) where the facts and arguments are presented in full; where the most judicious practice is pointed out, and the chemical and physical principles involved fully explained. With a knowledge of these principles and their application to the nature of the growing plants, no one can fail to be convinced of the value of thorough drainage, even if the results of experience had not yet been ascertained.

From the recently published reports of State Agricultural Societies, might be selected numerous instances where crops on well drained lands have withstood the effects of drought, or the attack of insects, &c., while on adjacent farms the crops were much inured or destroyed.

Droughts seem to be a necessity to undrained lands, as Summer fallowing is to over-cropped and badly managed farms. The droughts of the past two years, which have been the cause of so much complaint and discouragement with farmers, have had their

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effect in producing the abundant crops of 1860. They occur in the natural course of things to compensate for the want of proper drainage, and to prepare the soil for greater average productiveness than would be possible without them. But with thorough drainage and a proper rotation no such necessity would exist; full and even crops would be raised every year; neither drought nor Summer-fallowing would be needed.

Drainage is affected by a series of tiles placed so as to form a continuous opening at the bottom of a ditch dug deep enough to be below the winter frosts; the ditch is then filled, the surface remaining unbroken. These tiles are of various forms and dimensions to suit different kinds of soil and to pass a greater or less quantity of water. They are made of brick-clay, formed into the proper shape by machinery, and burned in kilns, to the proper degree for strength and durability. They are one foot in length each, and are sold by the thousand. We are glad to be able to announce that drainage tiles of the best quality are now manufactured extensively by Dr. L. W. Weeks, at Milwaukee, and sold at the prices charged at the East.

The following table, showing the quantity of rain at Milwaukee, from 1841 to 1859, made up from manuscript records of meteorological observations in my possession, will be of use to the farmer in deciding upon the proper system of drainage to be adopted, as well as to the engineer, and others. This table will also be of special value to the city, whenever a general plan for sewerage shall be adopted.