Thursday, October 7. Id09.1
THE PROGRESSIVE FARMER.
. : v.
How Tile Drainarfo Will Help.
jt Will Not Only Remove Surplus Water From Our Lands, But
AVill Also Increase Their Moisture-Holding Capacity, Thus Mak
ing Better Conditions for Crops in Wet Weather or Dry.
HE BETTER acquainted I get
with The Progressive Farmer
territory the more I see of the
business necessity of tile draining
certain soils everywhere.
In the mountains tile drainage will
trn water-"sobbed," unproductive
into nne ieruie lauu 01
and because of the
bottoms
value,
small proportion of such level soils
these sections contain, it is especial
ly important that every one be put
in condition to produce maximum
crops every year.
In the Piedmont sections are
thousands of acres of spongy soils
that can never be depended upon
except during droughty years. These
-soils can be made "as good as new"
surplus water out from below instead
of allowing it to rise to the surface
to ruin the crops and spoil the looks
of the field. Then there are thou
sands of miles of open ditches run
ning through the sags, between the
hills, that should be tiled if for no
other purpose than to do away with
the open ditches that are now ob
structing the work of modern farm
tools. But tiling these sags will do
more than this. It will allow for the
cultivation of the rich soils, now
given" up to ditch banks, usually the
most fertile in the fields, will deepen
these soils until profitable crops will
become the rule. .
The level coast plain country needs
tiling the worst way, as soils from
which surplus water must evaporate
can never be depended upon, and
; ' '
cropping sucn sons is mosuy a gam
ble. We need a number of well
equipped tile-making plants in our
tprr.tnrv. esnAciallv in North and
South Carolina. The writer found a
good ! plant at West Point, Miss.,
where good. tile was being made and
sold at a reasonable price.
The ordinary farmer, producing
the staple farm crops, will probably
want to begin his tiling on the lowest
spots on the farm and trench out as
1 he finds "time and means to expand
his operations. The more of the
work he does the more he will want
to do, as no improvement that can
be made on the farm, will speak in
such a convincing way as will proper
ly laid tile-drains, and the beauty of
the business ; is that the longer the
tiles are used fthe better they work,
and that, without any additional ex
pense, if the work be thoroughly
done in the beginning. '
The sized tile used for a certain
section of land will depend largely
upon the fall available, the nature of
the subsoil the average rainfall, etc..
and no fixed rule can be made to ap
ply to fair cases, but when we get at
the main reason for tile drainage the
matter will become plainer for us.
The principal thing in tile drainage
is not as some seem to think the
running of water from the soil, but
the lowering of the water table, mak
ing said soil several times its pres
ent depth, thus providing for a much
'arger J moisture-holding capacity.
This explains the fact that rather
small-sized tile will take care of the
surplus water from a piece of land
that, if only surface drainage be de
pended, upon, will require ditches of
ten times, or more, the- size of the
tile necessary to DroDerlv handle the
surplus water.
When small sags are to be drained
where, the lines of tile will be not
more than 20 rods 'n-leneth, 3-inch
tile will be found of sufficient size
Bv A. L. FrencKlBurdville, Va. '
and will do the work as well as larg
er and more expensive tile. But when
several of these lateral drains are
connected with one main, this main
should, of course, be of a size equal
to the cdmbined capacity of the small
tiles. .
In another paper I shall go into
the details of laying tile drains and
that paper will answer hundreds of
questions we have been asked by
Progressive Farmer readers during
the past ninety days. The strong
interest being manifested in the sub
ject of tile drainage argues well for
the intelligence and enterprise of our
people. A thoroughly tile-drained soil
filled with vegetable matter will
make us masters of the situation,
whether the seasons be wet or dry or
just "megium."
plements? Do they need a coat of
new paint? If they have not been;
painted since last summer, and have'
been exposed to all kinds of weatherj
they certainly do. If this is the casej
go and buy one quart of paint, one
pint of turpentine and a small brush
Wash and clean the wagon I or imf
plement and see how much good
your paint will do, and see how much
space one quart will cover.
If you
WORK FOR LEISURE DAYS.
Paint the Wagon and Farm Imple.
raents, Fix up Fences ' and Gates,
Patch the Roofs, Clean Out the
Well.
Messrs. Editors: Now that the
busiest farm work is oyer, at least
for the present, I wish to jnake a
few suggestions to the farmers, for
their leisure time. Many of them
are taking a season of rest and vaca
tion, but the progressive and wide
awake farmer can find plenty to do
at all times. I am not opposed to
farmers taking a much needed rest
occasionally, but do believe too many
of us mope around, killing much
valuable time, which if used proper
ly would mean much to us in the
future. I find plenty of light work
around the house and out-buildings
to keep me right busy, and am more
contented, and I believe others could
do the same.
How about your wagons, buggies,
surries, plows and other farming im-
do not have enough, buy more, . for
money spent painting your .wagons
and farm machinery pays handsome
dividends. It will keep the air out
and will also prevent rain and water
from getting in and causing it to
rot or rust. It will look better and
you will be proud to see show much
you have accomplished. Besides it
adds to the life of your machinery, j
Now is as good time as 'any to
repair that old fence, put in new
posts where needed, tighten ) up the
wire, or nail on a new plank where
needed. Those gates that have been
swinging and hanging need repair
and bracing- see that you do it. I
j If the granary roof needs patch
ing, do it now, for it doesn't pay to
let the rain in on it. I saw
crib last winter with fully 10
a corn
bush-
the owner failed to patch the roof,
and he knew it needed it but put
it off till another time.
Clean out the well, draw off the
water, and have some one go down
and take up what mud and trash
might be in it, and insure yourself
and stock some good water.
There are hundreds of other
things I might mention, but these
suggestions may put you to thinking,
and to work, and you will be the
happier thereby. T. D. BROWN.
Rowan Co., N. C;
els of corn rotten, simply because
Save All the Hay You Can.
Messrs. Editors: More soy beans
have been planted this year in Pitt
County than ever before and they
are fine. I saw the other day several
lots planted in 3 Ms -foot rows that
had entirely covered the land and
were at least 3 feet high.
I would suggest that the farmers
also cut the bull grass that is plenti
ful In the low places in the fields.
Cut just as about one-half the plants
have formed the head and this will
admirably supplement the peavine
hay. I have cut and saved about one
ton and all my stock seem to relish it
A. J. MOYE.
1 FA Z2?23 0M TOILS
'0
J
Writ f or our free Pamohlet on Drainage. Gives all necessary Information. Tells
HOW to Drain and WHY. lUse of drain tile Increases value of land and crops at least
25 to 40 per cent, BECAUSE IT PREVENTS damage by excessive rains; prevents dam
age by stagnant water and souring of soil, and prevents soli from becoming baked and
cloddy, lit enables the farmer to work soil earlier In the spring; lessens risk of "freez
ing out;" lessens risk of surface washing.! lit lets the air In, makes the soil warmer, and
enables the roots to go deeper. Consequently It Is a help In dry weather as well as In
wet weather, lit Is good for all kinds of lands and all kinds of seasons. It Is no experi
ment lWe make a SUPERIOR grade of drain tile at a reasonable price. Warrafor
the pamphlet and let us Quote prices. :
POMOMA TtZROA-COTTA COMPANY,
tMamf ecturers of Fi
POMONA, N. C.
ti i .' ; 5
Drain TOe, Sewer Pipe. Well Tubing. FhieTipe. Etc
'TV
Twadk Marfc
Askypur Dealer for
Mill
NOHI JU4TAS COO It,
lfe ill v
DAILY OUTPUT OVER 50,000 BARRELS
THE LARGEST IN THE WORLD.
It Makes the Best Concrete
There are many) brands of Portland Cement manufactured
and various grades of quality, yet there is as much difference
between these brands as1 tere is between various kinds of
seeds, and you knowjthat poor seeds never produce a good crop.
The Best That Can Be Made t
There is only one quality of ATLAS Portland Cement the
best that can be made", arid the same for everybody.
, ATLAS is always uniform. It never varies in fineness, color
or strength, as it is manufactured from ' the genuine raw
materials ; that is why it makes the best concrete.
The 1 Standard for Quality
ATLAS is the standard by which the quality of all other
brands is measured. To say that a brand of cement is
almost as good as ATLAS, is to pay it the highest compliment.
There are none just as good.
ATLAS has the greatest sale because it has the greatest merit. It stands
every test by architects, engineers and chemists.
The U. S. Government bought 4,500,000 barrels of ATLAS for the
Panama Canal. You i may buy only one bag, but you get the same
quality the Government gets. jCan you ask for any better ?
Write for copy of nt book, "Caaarete Ceutractioe AW th Heae aal tie Fam." .
It coataias 160 pases of practical iaforaatioa aad mr ISO iHastratioas. W mail it Fro.
Ask your dealer for ATLAS. If he cannot supply Too write to .
The ATLAS Portland CEMENT Companj
Department 117. i ! 30 Broad Street, New York