ATTENDING TO DRAINAGE

Taranaki Daily News, 18 August 1934, Page 24 (Supplement)

ATTENDING TO DRAINAGE

In general, winter proves the most suitable season in which to attend to farm drainage (remarks the New Zealand Journal of Agriculture). One of the most important matters to be kept in mind is that money may easily be spent unwisely on drainage—even on land requiring drainage—unless the work is planned and carried out' properly. As each drainage proposition is likely to contain aspects peculiar to itself, those desiring detailed guidance should apply to local officers of the Fields Division/ The following general statements seem worthy of mention, mainly because they are at times ignored. The drainage of wet spots in a field is often the most profitable type of drainage a farmer can undertake. In the drainage of isolated wet spots an endeavour should be made —particularly if tile drains are being employed—to locate the drain-lines so that the drains may serve as part of more thorough and comprehensive. future work and probably be the basis of it. As a rule, the first few pounds spent on drainage return the greatest profit relatively. The first thing that should be studied in planning a drainage system is the source of the excessive amount of water—the possibility of cheap drainage of an area by preventing water reaching it instead of costly drainage by removal of water may be revealed. This is especially applicable to wet areas along hillsides or on foothills. Mole drainage, under suitable conditions for it, is likely to be especially attractive when the benefit it confers is considered in relation to the annual charge involved. Apart from new drainage work, there is often need in July to do maintenance work in respect to existing drains, which at least should be inspected periodically to ensure that they are functioning continuously. Too often the outlets are allowed to remain choked. All indications of failure of drains or of want of drainage should be noted, the former ’"'■‘h the object of biin-’r" - ' the latter with the object of knowing how to carry out most efficiently any future drainage work. z