A Century Old Garden Spot on the Mend

A percolation test (from percolation, colloquially called a perc test) is a test to determine the absorption rate of soil for a septic drain field or "leach field". The results of a percolation test are required to properly design a septic system. In its broadest terms, percolation testing is simply observing how quickly a known volume of water dissipates into the subsoil of a drilled hole of known surface area. While every jurisdiction will have its own laws regarding the exact calculations for the length of line, depth of pit, etc., the testing procedures are the same. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Percolation_test

In general, sandy soil will absorb more water than soil with a high concentration of clay or where the water table is close to the surface.

A percolation test, or perk test, is a way to evaluate the absorption of a particular area of soil. Perk tests are important because septic systems cannot be designed appropriately without understanding the absorption rate of the soil. Regulator agencies require that all land undergoes a perk test before a septic tank is installed. Even if a septic system is not being installed, a perk test can be beneficial in that it determines the quality of the soil in a given tract of land. 

 http://www.ehow.com/about_5035988_land-perk-test.html#ixzz2X3kokMr0

Unfortunately our garden has been transformed into a new garden. We must begin at the beginning. The soil that replaced the long tilled and maintained garden soil that was here previously does not have the same absorption quality. The loam is not of the same high quality. It is going to require some really hard work to get that great loam back. We are going to have to start from the beginning. We already see that the present conditions involve very slow absorption rates. We are forced to change the current drainage problem created by the topsoil removal and the packing down of the subsoil in the planting site to decrease runoff and to make it a garden space all over again. We need lots of compost and organic matter to accomplish this.

The remaining soil has a high content of clay and it is draining slowly. We must move forward and rebuild the great loam created in over a 100 years of gardening in which compost of various kinds were added to the soil. A good loam  has just the right combination of sand, clay, and silt. Soils with high contents of sand will drain too quickly and high contents of clay will cause standing water.  A good loam will minimize the amount of standing water in low areas of the garden plot. Mr. Gainey's across the garden plot way of laying the rows will also work to decrease run off and increase absorption rate. Those previous conditions that made this a good space for gardening will take quite a few years to replace.  http://www.veggiegardener.com/how-to-measure-soil-drainage/