Elements of agriculture, for use Elements of agriculture, for use in schools elementsofagricu00mcbr Year: 1901 the drains through the cracks and joints^ which are properly left open. Underdrains are often called blind-drains. In place of a built-up drain coarse tiles are often used. Tiles are short j^ieces of clay pipe, which are loosely fitted together in the bottom of the drain. Such drains are called tile-drains, and, as in the ordinary drain, the water enters through the joints. Fig. 17 shows an ordi- nary blind-drain and Fig. 18 a tile-drahi. Besides removing tlu excess of water and ren-
Elements of agriculture, for use Elements of agriculture, for use in schools elementsofagricu00mcbr Year: 1901 the drains through the cracks and joints^ which are properly left open. Underdrains are often called blind-drains. In place of a built-up drain coarse tiles are often used. Tiles are short j^ieces of clay pipe, which are loosely fitted together in the bottom of the drain. Such drains are called tile-drains, and, as in the ordinary drain, the water enters through the joints. Fig. 17 shows an ordi- nary blind-drain and Fig. 18 a tile-drahi. Besides removing tlu excess of water and ren- dering the soil fit for surface cultivation, drainage is of benefit to the soil in several ways. It makes the soil warmer by preventing the excessive surface evaporation. It allows the roots of plants to penetrate the soil to greater depths; for the roots of most cultivated crops cannot grow in a soil saturated with water. It opens up the soil to the air which supplies the roots of grow- ing plants with oxygen, and sometimes with nitrogen. In many parts of our country are great areas of swampy lands which, when properly drained, may be- come fertile farming lands. By establishing a thorough drainage system the small country of Holland has added to its territorv over 12,000 square miles of rich farming land that was once an uninhabitable swamp. 114, Irrigation.—Irrigation is the reverse of drain- age, as it is the addition, by artificial means, of Stone- FiG. 18.—Til ( drain.
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