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Wrtttea tar tbe Indian Principles and Benefits of Farm Drain- By H. S. Chamberlaiu. 1'roiier drainage of the land is as neees- m successful agriculture as judicious fertilizing aud careful cultivation. Nature usually provides ample means for the disposal of any surplus water from ruiu- fall, l"it in many cases urtiticial methods uiiiHt be used. Thousands ot acres, throughout our country, once practically worthless swamp or bog laud, are to-day hriile and productive through well plan- mil systems of artificial drainage. Too mnch moisture in the soil is as detrimental to plant growth, valuable to the fanner, as au iusulllcient quantity of it. There must be a supply of moisture just sufficient to dissolve aud render assimilable all mineral foods of cereals and Other plants, and this supply must be regulated either by nature or by man, if the best results in crop production are wanted. Draiuage not only relieves the laud of any excess of water, but strangely euough it diminishes the bad effects of a drouth. A drained soil is moist, but dues not contain too much water, because ihe quantity is under regulation. Moisture in the soil exists in a mechanical condition and its amouut depends iu i measure upon the texture of the soil as well as upon adequate drainage. The storage of moisture in the soil ordinarily depends upon the surface tension of water on each soil particle. By this means a thin film of: water is attracted and held to the surface of each soil grain. This seemingly small quantity of water is sultlcient for best crop yields, and anything beyond this normal state, whether due to rainfall or seepage from higher ground, must be carried aWay. Natural or artificial daiaage depends primarily upon gravity, and its dispatch depends upon tlie slope of the area relieved. The fall of an artificial drain can be as low as one-half inch per one hundred feet when the distance is not too great. A grade of from one to two inches per hundred feet has been successfully used to drain vast tracts. About 50 per cent of the Boil volume is due to 6paces between the component grains. The size and shape of these soil ; particles naturally determine the size of the interstices. All this in turn decides i Uie extent of soil porosity, and consequent* , ly adds to the moisture retaining proper- lies, aside from surface tension. Coarse **and and finely divided compacted clay n present the extremes in mechanical soil conditions. Where natural drainage is adequate an I il areas and causes the frost tt. leave the ground earlier iu the spring; a decided advantage to the farmer. It makes compact clay soil more porous ami workable and hence more penetrable to plant roots than would otherwise be. possible under surface drainage. The injury to crops from prolonged and excessive drv weather is minimized by lliooaaad depth and area of soil stratum. It prevents abnormal evaporation of moisture, aud allows bet.* circulation of air and entrance of atmoejlierie heat, thus producing new soil from crude and uiiiiilnpteil soil materials. Soils difficult of cultivation are changed in texture and mechanical make up and consequently are more readily controlled and yield better crop returns. make a bad investment, and perhaps lose it all. IMPROVED SEEDS FROM THE AG- RICULTURAi. DEPARTMENT. Editors Indiana Farmer A conservative calculation shows that the value to the American sugar beet growers of using higher grade seed than is usually sent out by ticrnian seedsmen will easily uggr.'gate $1,000,000 aumiaily. During l'.HHI the Department of Agriculture will distribute more than 15,000 pounds of American sugar beet seed and tin* growers will proliably produce in the neighborhood of 800,000 pounds of seed next year all of wlii.-li has beeu contracted for at the present linn*. While the Department of Agriculture F "The Retreat," Home of Mrs. Julia R. Conk Westfield. Indiana. SHALL WE INVEST IN LAND? editors Indiana Fanner I write you for some advice, and hope you will publish it through your paper, as I am a subscriber. The advice that I want is this: I am a youog man of 30; I have farmed for myself for ten years; have bought all first elass farming implements and paid for them and have four head of good work horses and 15 head of cattle; some hogs and a few sheep, and have $1,000 in money. Now what would be a safe investment? Would it be wise to invest it in a farm of 80 acres at $100 per acre or not? If not what would be a proper investment? Iu 10 years I have farmed three different forms of 80 acres each, and had to give one-half of all the gTain, hay, fruit and potatoes, but I am getting tired of doing this way. If you can advise a way to do better I would be glad to hear it. A Subscriber. —Before our advise would be of much ulmort perfect* ow_diti*» "oMain*» ' fer~«_e- i valuc t0 y°u we ou8ht t0 know wbat ' essfol farming, and whetre it does not ^nd of *»"d rou can b"-v at *100 an BCTe' exist artificial conduction of excess water If it is really first class land, as well as mnst resorted to. The underdrain system j be'i*g located near to good markets, as you is usually the best. I are* ?ou wol,ld 'be safe in >«vesting your Tnderdrainagc mav be accomplished in ! money in it, but if it requires much fcr- iwo wavs. (a) By open ditches cut ; Uliiation and you cannot afford the money deep enough to enter the subsoil and al- I to pay for the fertilizer it would be unsafe low the water percolating through the por- i to venture your all for the rarm alone. ous top soil to Sow into it and thence We recommend you to take counsel from •way. (D Bv the covered underdrain some of the most successful and reliable eonstructed from hollow glazed or porous tiles. These methods benefit the land •ind its owner in many material ways. The surface water is taken downward through the soil and prevents erosion common to surface drainage. The valuable top soil is left intact, and any soluble fertilizing content is carried deeper, to the Sg benefit to the plant roots. Under- draining raises the temperature of the sor- fnrmers of your acquaintance. They will give you safe advice. Knowing all the circumstances, which we do not, their opinion would be much more valuable than ours, although we are always willing to aid our subscribers in any way in our power. We have only this further to say, that we advise you not to be in a hurry to invest your money. You had better hold it snd rent another' year than to is quite limited in the annual appropriation for the recovery, collection and distribution of new seeds and plants, it is doing most remarkable work in searching, tnrough its special agricultural explorers, the countries of the old world where agriculture has been carried on for centuries and tens of centuries and where its history of crop-raising traces back to medieval days. From these countries some of the most useful and attractive plants hu.e been introduced. Every now and then a new plant or new variety is discovered and introduced which may revolutionize that particular branch of crop production. Macaroni wheat the Secretary of Agicul- tue mentions as a fair example. Extensive trials of this wheat made in tlie semi arid west—just west of the produciug area for orditiary wheat—shows that it is possible to bring into cultivation 1,000,000 square miles heretofore thought to be unfit for any agriculture and capable of producing this new grain at the rate of 15 to 20 bushels per acre. Secretary Wrilson believes that for every section of our vastly dlvrsified soil land climate the old world has a corresponding spot where agriculture has been successfully prosecuted for centuries. All that is neenled is full and complete information of these countries and an Intelligent application of that knowledge to our own. Touching on the question of the annual Congressional seed distribution, Secretary Wilson stated that while there is undoubtedly some benefit attached to the distribution of vegetoble seed each year the real value to the country of such distribution cannot lie compared with that of even one good introduction like macaroni wheat, Japanese rice, and improved variety of cotton or various oilier articles which might be mentioned. G. E. M. Washington, D. C. Florida, as it Is. Editors Indiana Fanner We had read many glowiug accounts of the sunny South by real estate dealers and supposed it was the garden spot of '.In* United States; but the delusion was simiu dispelled when we saw things as they are. When we went South we passed lh rough some of the most desolute coun- irj in* ever saw, rough, broken, narrow valleys where feeble attempts were made ai agriculture. Of course there was sonve line country and large fields of cotton, and an occasional field of puny corn. When we arrived nt Pensacola, Fla., we supposed it would be warm. In tills we were disappointed, as it was about as cold as it was when we left home. It was the coldest it had been for 20 yejirs. Our Impression of the Sunny Se*nh._was not favorable. The next itn.ri •*». .'ter our arrival the ground was froze c enough to bear up a four horse te| f»* ut there was sn.ou a change; the sue ? out aud by noon it was quite warm 3 Tom that time on while we remain ""i weather tu fine. £ Provisions are not high "£-*ially fish, oysters, sweet potatoes .-. ^ Sits. Irish potatoes are high as they-oae not thrive well bete, most of the northern visitors spend much time in fishing, as fish are very plenty. There are many places of interest to visit near Pensacola, such as the forts. Ten miles from Pensacola on the bay or Forts Pickens, Barrancas and McKee. Barrancas, is an old fort built over .100 years ago by the Spanish. It was used during the civil war; but Ib now out of commission. The old guns remain in position ns they did during the war, but are useless when compared with modern guns. This fort is built of heavy masonry, and at the time of its construction was considered almost impregnable. Today it would not last long if bombarded by modern guns.' It is kept as a relic and curiosity of days gone by. Fort Pickens is up-to-date, and one of the strongest forts on the gulf, being located at the mouth of the channel. It was the only defense that was not captured in the South during the civil war. In the navy yard here small vessels are built and all kinds of repairs are made on large vessels. We visited the great fish packing establishments here, several of which employ a large number of men. The fish business, in a small way, is to the South what the meat business is to the North. The kind of fish caught at this time of year is the red snapper a fine specimen often weighing from 5 to 30 pounds. We visited one of the large saw mills ! of the South. This mill was located on the bay. Logs are floated to it in large rafts. An elevator built out in the water, something like that used at an ice house, was used to bring logs into the mill. Many i of the logs are sawed into long square tim- i bers, intended for ship building, railroad I ridges and other large structures. This heavy timber is shipped to all parts of the world, England securing a large quantity of it. The lumlxr business here is very important. It. H. B. Cass Co. It is to the welfare of the farmer to encourage the building of electric roads through his neighborhood; but he should see to it that such lines be kept from obtaining the right of way along the public highways. An electric car is often as dangerous along the public roads as automobiles.
Object Description
Title | Indiana farmer, 1906, v. 61, no. 06 (Feb. 10) |
Purdue Identification Number | INFA6106 |
Date of Original | 1906 |
Subjects (LCSH) |
Agriculture Farm management Horticulture Agricultural machinery |
Subjects (NALT) |
agriculture farm management horticulture agricultural machinery and equipment |
Genre | Periodical |
Call Number of Original | 630.5 In2 |
Location of Original | Hicks Repository |
Coverage | United States - Indiana |
Type | text |
Format | JP2 |
Language | eng |
Collection Title | Indiana Farmer |
Rights Statement | Content in the Indiana Farmer Collection is in the public domain (published before 1923) or lacks a known copyright holder. Digital images in the collection may be used for educational, non-commercial, or not-for-profit purposes. |
Repository | Purdue University Libraries |
Date Digitized | 2011-01-27 |
Digitization Information | Original scanned at 300 ppi on a Bookeye 3 scanner using internal software. Display images generated in CONTENTdm as JP2000s; file format for archival copy is uncompressed TIF format. |
Description
Title | Page 1 |
Subjects (LCSH) |
Agriculture Farm management Horticulture Agricultural machinery |
Subjects (NALT) |
agriculture farm management horticulture agricultural machinery and equipment |
Genre | Periodical |
Call Number of Original | 630.5 In2 |
Location of Original | Hicks Repository |
Coverage | Indiana |
Type | text |
Format | JP2 |
Language | eng |
Collection Title | Indiana Farmer |
Rights Statement | Content in the Indiana Farmer Collection is in the public domain (published before 1923) or lacks a known copyright holder. Digital images in the collection may be used for educational, non-commercial, or non-for-profit purposes. |
Repository | Purdue University Libraries |
Digitization Information | Orignal scanned at 300 ppi on a Bookeye 3 scanner using internal software. Display images generated in CONTENTdm as JP2000s; file format for archival copy is uncompressed TIF format. |
Transcript | Wrtttea tar tbe Indian Principles and Benefits of Farm Drain- By H. S. Chamberlaiu. 1'roiier drainage of the land is as neees- m successful agriculture as judicious fertilizing aud careful cultivation. Nature usually provides ample means for the disposal of any surplus water from ruiu- fall, l"it in many cases urtiticial methods uiiiHt be used. Thousands ot acres, throughout our country, once practically worthless swamp or bog laud, are to-day hriile and productive through well plan- mil systems of artificial drainage. Too mnch moisture in the soil is as detrimental to plant growth, valuable to the fanner, as au iusulllcient quantity of it. There must be a supply of moisture just sufficient to dissolve aud render assimilable all mineral foods of cereals and Other plants, and this supply must be regulated either by nature or by man, if the best results in crop production are wanted. Draiuage not only relieves the laud of any excess of water, but strangely euough it diminishes the bad effects of a drouth. A drained soil is moist, but dues not contain too much water, because ihe quantity is under regulation. Moisture in the soil exists in a mechanical condition and its amouut depends iu i measure upon the texture of the soil as well as upon adequate drainage. The storage of moisture in the soil ordinarily depends upon the surface tension of water on each soil particle. By this means a thin film of: water is attracted and held to the surface of each soil grain. This seemingly small quantity of water is sultlcient for best crop yields, and anything beyond this normal state, whether due to rainfall or seepage from higher ground, must be carried aWay. Natural or artificial daiaage depends primarily upon gravity, and its dispatch depends upon tlie slope of the area relieved. The fall of an artificial drain can be as low as one-half inch per one hundred feet when the distance is not too great. A grade of from one to two inches per hundred feet has been successfully used to drain vast tracts. About 50 per cent of the Boil volume is due to 6paces between the component grains. The size and shape of these soil ; particles naturally determine the size of the interstices. All this in turn decides i Uie extent of soil porosity, and consequent* , ly adds to the moisture retaining proper- lies, aside from surface tension. Coarse **and and finely divided compacted clay n present the extremes in mechanical soil conditions. Where natural drainage is adequate an I il areas and causes the frost tt. leave the ground earlier iu the spring; a decided advantage to the farmer. It makes compact clay soil more porous ami workable and hence more penetrable to plant roots than would otherwise be. possible under surface drainage. The injury to crops from prolonged and excessive drv weather is minimized by lliooaaad depth and area of soil stratum. It prevents abnormal evaporation of moisture, aud allows bet.* circulation of air and entrance of atmoejlierie heat, thus producing new soil from crude and uiiiiilnpteil soil materials. Soils difficult of cultivation are changed in texture and mechanical make up and consequently are more readily controlled and yield better crop returns. make a bad investment, and perhaps lose it all. IMPROVED SEEDS FROM THE AG- RICULTURAi. DEPARTMENT. Editors Indiana Farmer A conservative calculation shows that the value to the American sugar beet growers of using higher grade seed than is usually sent out by ticrnian seedsmen will easily uggr.'gate $1,000,000 aumiaily. During l'.HHI the Department of Agriculture will distribute more than 15,000 pounds of American sugar beet seed and tin* growers will proliably produce in the neighborhood of 800,000 pounds of seed next year all of wlii.-li has beeu contracted for at the present linn*. While the Department of Agriculture F "The Retreat," Home of Mrs. Julia R. Conk Westfield. Indiana. SHALL WE INVEST IN LAND? editors Indiana Fanner I write you for some advice, and hope you will publish it through your paper, as I am a subscriber. The advice that I want is this: I am a youog man of 30; I have farmed for myself for ten years; have bought all first elass farming implements and paid for them and have four head of good work horses and 15 head of cattle; some hogs and a few sheep, and have $1,000 in money. Now what would be a safe investment? Would it be wise to invest it in a farm of 80 acres at $100 per acre or not? If not what would be a proper investment? Iu 10 years I have farmed three different forms of 80 acres each, and had to give one-half of all the gTain, hay, fruit and potatoes, but I am getting tired of doing this way. If you can advise a way to do better I would be glad to hear it. A Subscriber. —Before our advise would be of much ulmort perfect* ow_diti*» "oMain*» ' fer~«_e- i valuc t0 y°u we ou8ht t0 know wbat ' essfol farming, and whetre it does not ^nd of *»"d rou can b"-v at *100 an BCTe' exist artificial conduction of excess water If it is really first class land, as well as mnst resorted to. The underdrain system j be'i*g located near to good markets, as you is usually the best. I are* ?ou wol,ld 'be safe in >«vesting your Tnderdrainagc mav be accomplished in ! money in it, but if it requires much fcr- iwo wavs. (a) By open ditches cut ; Uliiation and you cannot afford the money deep enough to enter the subsoil and al- I to pay for the fertilizer it would be unsafe low the water percolating through the por- i to venture your all for the rarm alone. ous top soil to Sow into it and thence We recommend you to take counsel from •way. (D Bv the covered underdrain some of the most successful and reliable eonstructed from hollow glazed or porous tiles. These methods benefit the land •ind its owner in many material ways. The surface water is taken downward through the soil and prevents erosion common to surface drainage. The valuable top soil is left intact, and any soluble fertilizing content is carried deeper, to the Sg benefit to the plant roots. Under- draining raises the temperature of the sor- fnrmers of your acquaintance. They will give you safe advice. Knowing all the circumstances, which we do not, their opinion would be much more valuable than ours, although we are always willing to aid our subscribers in any way in our power. We have only this further to say, that we advise you not to be in a hurry to invest your money. You had better hold it snd rent another' year than to is quite limited in the annual appropriation for the recovery, collection and distribution of new seeds and plants, it is doing most remarkable work in searching, tnrough its special agricultural explorers, the countries of the old world where agriculture has been carried on for centuries and tens of centuries and where its history of crop-raising traces back to medieval days. From these countries some of the most useful and attractive plants hu.e been introduced. Every now and then a new plant or new variety is discovered and introduced which may revolutionize that particular branch of crop production. Macaroni wheat the Secretary of Agicul- tue mentions as a fair example. Extensive trials of this wheat made in tlie semi arid west—just west of the produciug area for orditiary wheat—shows that it is possible to bring into cultivation 1,000,000 square miles heretofore thought to be unfit for any agriculture and capable of producing this new grain at the rate of 15 to 20 bushels per acre. Secretary Wrilson believes that for every section of our vastly dlvrsified soil land climate the old world has a corresponding spot where agriculture has been successfully prosecuted for centuries. All that is neenled is full and complete information of these countries and an Intelligent application of that knowledge to our own. Touching on the question of the annual Congressional seed distribution, Secretary Wilson stated that while there is undoubtedly some benefit attached to the distribution of vegetoble seed each year the real value to the country of such distribution cannot lie compared with that of even one good introduction like macaroni wheat, Japanese rice, and improved variety of cotton or various oilier articles which might be mentioned. G. E. M. Washington, D. C. Florida, as it Is. Editors Indiana Fanner We had read many glowiug accounts of the sunny South by real estate dealers and supposed it was the garden spot of '.In* United States; but the delusion was simiu dispelled when we saw things as they are. When we went South we passed lh rough some of the most desolute coun- irj in* ever saw, rough, broken, narrow valleys where feeble attempts were made ai agriculture. Of course there was sonve line country and large fields of cotton, and an occasional field of puny corn. When we arrived nt Pensacola, Fla., we supposed it would be warm. In tills we were disappointed, as it was about as cold as it was when we left home. It was the coldest it had been for 20 yejirs. Our Impression of the Sunny Se*nh._was not favorable. The next itn.ri •*». .'ter our arrival the ground was froze c enough to bear up a four horse te| f»* ut there was sn.ou a change; the sue ? out aud by noon it was quite warm 3 Tom that time on while we remain ""i weather tu fine. £ Provisions are not high "£-*ially fish, oysters, sweet potatoes .-. ^ Sits. Irish potatoes are high as they-oae not thrive well bete, most of the northern visitors spend much time in fishing, as fish are very plenty. There are many places of interest to visit near Pensacola, such as the forts. Ten miles from Pensacola on the bay or Forts Pickens, Barrancas and McKee. Barrancas, is an old fort built over .100 years ago by the Spanish. It was used during the civil war; but Ib now out of commission. The old guns remain in position ns they did during the war, but are useless when compared with modern guns. This fort is built of heavy masonry, and at the time of its construction was considered almost impregnable. Today it would not last long if bombarded by modern guns.' It is kept as a relic and curiosity of days gone by. Fort Pickens is up-to-date, and one of the strongest forts on the gulf, being located at the mouth of the channel. It was the only defense that was not captured in the South during the civil war. In the navy yard here small vessels are built and all kinds of repairs are made on large vessels. We visited the great fish packing establishments here, several of which employ a large number of men. The fish business, in a small way, is to the South what the meat business is to the North. The kind of fish caught at this time of year is the red snapper a fine specimen often weighing from 5 to 30 pounds. We visited one of the large saw mills ! of the South. This mill was located on the bay. Logs are floated to it in large rafts. An elevator built out in the water, something like that used at an ice house, was used to bring logs into the mill. Many i of the logs are sawed into long square tim- i bers, intended for ship building, railroad I ridges and other large structures. This heavy timber is shipped to all parts of the world, England securing a large quantity of it. The lumlxr business here is very important. It. H. B. Cass Co. It is to the welfare of the farmer to encourage the building of electric roads through his neighborhood; but he should see to it that such lines be kept from obtaining the right of way along the public highways. An electric car is often as dangerous along the public roads as automobiles. |
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