10. Draining enables us to deepen the surface-soil, because the admission of air and the decay of roots render the condition of the subsoil such that it may be brought up and mixed with the surface-soil, without injuring its quality.
The second class of advantages of under-draining, arising in the removal of the excess of water in the soil, are quite as important as those just described.
How does the removal of water render soils earlier in spring?
Why does it prevent the throwing out of grain in winter?
Why does it enable us to work sooner after rains?
Why does it keep off the effects of cold weather longer in the fall?
11. Soils are, thereby, rendered earlier in spring, because the water, which rendered them cold, heavy, and untillable, is earlier removed, leaving them earlier in a growing condition.
12. The throwing out of grain in winter is prevented, because the water falling on the earth is immediately removed instead of remaining to throw up the soil by freezing, as it always does from the upright position taken by the particles of ice.
13. We are enabled to work sooner after rains, because the water descends, and is immediately removed instead of lying to be taken off by the slow process of evaporation, and sinking through a heavy soil.
14. The effects of cold weather are kept off longer in the fall, because the excess of water is removed, which would produce an unfertile condition on the first appearance of cold weather.