Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1851-07-04
slde-Hln Dltch1ng aud Level Cultivation.

Side-EIIil Ditching and Level Cultivation.
| This is what is more needed throughout all the
cotton growing region than anything else which now
suggests itself to It is idle to talk about using
better tools, blowing deeper, manuring lands in
country that has little real estate for certainly
that cannot be called real is liable to run off into
the Gulf of Mexico or Atlantic Ocean, in the first
heavy shower after it is plowed. Yet this is the
condition of much of the land upon which cotton
grows As it must be kept clean by cultivation and
is continued in cultivation long as it will produce
is it any wonder that very light soil plowed up
and down hill for years, with pillow that merely
scratches the surface, should ruin land and
consequently exhibit such broad wastes Of old fields
covered with gulleys pines, and broom straw, which
in every district that has been cleared of for
est dozen years and often much less to pro-
ddce the sad effect
The remedy for this is entirely easy if commenced
with the first cultivation of the land and after
much of the mischief has been done, it will prove
very efhcacious. Shall give the process general
ly approved by planters who have tried the system
most extensively?
However undulating may be the surface of your
field let all the be laid off perfectly level To
do this first establish one row upon any given point
OF the field by the leveng instrument and then make
four to six more upon each side as near parallel to
that as be done by the eye of the best plowman
who must be set to work off for the other to bed up
upon. Now, from the outside row measure off for
four or six more rows. and then establish second
level by the instrument In this way 90 over the
whole field, no matter how undulating the surface.
make all the rows level If planters could be per-
suaded to pillow deep that is eight or ten inches and
the subso pillow in stiff lands this would answer
a very good purpose without bitches But as that
will not be DONE the next step is to cover the
whole ground with series of open drains sufficient
to take up all the water that falls upon the side hill
and conduct it safely away.
AS the whole value of the improvement consists in
the accuracy with which this work is DONE the first
step necessary is, to provide good Instruments The
cheapest and best one for plantation engineers what
is called the rafter level To make this implement,
cut out two strips of light pine. inch by three,
little twelve feet long and put them together in
triangle with asti girder between three feet from
the bottom, so that you have true triangle of ex-
actly twelve feet sides, of which is open. Now
set it upon its feet exactly level and then, at
venient height for the person who is to use it. put
another grder across with spirit level setting
it. Fasten one end of this cross bar with a stout
screw, and then bring the other end to point that
indicates level and fasten it. Reverse the feet of the
rafter to prove your plain is level and your insru-
ment true. Now if you take this to the field and
move it along given line. thatline will be an exact
level. To lay off ditch with fall that experience
has proved to be about right, on block so as
to raise foot of the rafer three inches and as
the feet ust twelve feet apart. that gives you
fall OF three inches to every twelve feet OF grade
Of 100 feet to the MILE which will carry the water
without any danger of washing particularly rs the
ditch will grow up in grass during summer. If how
ever, the ditch is very long and has to carry great
deal of water it may be safe to lower the grade
towards the outlet to two two and half inches to
the rafer space One of the great secrets of
in such bitches, is to make them of ample dimen-
sions and near together that gully cannot form
between them The rows being level and the ditch
grade will cross many of the rows, so that
an accumulation of water sufficient to break over
and form wash will find its way out of the end of
the into the ditch, and SO be conducted safely
out of the field.
If the outlet of the bitches can be carried into the
woods. into other situation where it will not
form gully, it should always be DONE Make the
bitches broad and round they can be crossed over
with pillow, and be cleaned out with dirt scraper
If you find at any time they are wearing, put dams
across other distractions sufficient to prevent the
difficulty. No definite rule can be given how near
together these bitches must be placed, as that will
depend upon the pitch of the hill and texture of the
soil-they may vary from FIVE to fifty yards apart.
Besides saving the land, sidehll bitches, wherer-
er tried eectually have greatly increased the pro-
Rain water contains great deal of fertilisng pro-
perty fit off suddenly, not only that is lost
but great deal more is carried with it. When it
is held by the bitches, it penetrates through the
lower bank of the ditch and enriches the land below
to show visible increase upon several rows of
cotton. 1t is system of artificial CATION
which, like that system wherever practiced, makes
the land more productive.
Some persons object to level rows, because, upon
very billy field. it makes the rows too long This
objection is easily obviated by turning at every ditch
crossing, or if you prefer it, make as many short
rows you like but do not stop the ditch long
it will upon that grade keep winding around
tho hills, and whenever the line comes to an old
wash fill up below and it. unless it is past all
hope of redemption and even then, it is better to
carry the water from it than empty the bitches into
it, After very hard rain, the owner, overseer, or