Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1853-01-19
ditch between the two outlets where the dis.

is owing altogether to the land-its quality,
and the grade of the hill. | have some Of
my bitches as close as thirty feet 10 each
other. The usual distance is about twenty
to forty yards on billy land-red stiff land
will bear even more than that. The only
general rule that can be laid down on this
point, however, is, be sure to have them close
enough together to- prevent washing Wien
you have flushed striking off ditch with
the small sticks, as above directed, you
should then go back and alter them where
the crook is too abrupt, and then remedy it
by cutting the ditch deeper or more shallow
at that point. You will find many places
can be done in this manner, on account Of
the general uncvenness Of the surface.
When this is done have furrow run
with plow six or eight inches from the
stakes on either side. The turrow is run
little distance from the stakes, so as to pre-
vent the horse from stepping on them. An
other furrow is then run upon the other side
of them-making the space between about
fifteen inches at the upper end, about three
feet at the lower end, (the ditch three hun
dred yards long.) Now plow out the mid.
die and have the dirt pulled out with hoes
on the lower side, until the ditch is six or
eight inches deep. 1t will be necessary to
plow it out two or three times, first with u
scooter and then with shovel, so as to
make it concave when finished, or YOU can
use any kind of plows you wish. After this
is done, by STOPPING down low in the ditch
you can see the rough points or Jumps that
will need trimming. think bitches should
be rs shallow as possible to answer the pur
pose for which they are designed, so that
horses and mules will step across them
more readily and the dirt will not be so apt
to fal! in from the edges. The ditch should
spread over greater surface is less liable
to wash it into a gully than if confined
in narrow space. Even when a ditch is
well laid of, if it is made too narrow it may
fill altogether. If at any time you discover
that ditch is too narrow, alter Immediately
If too wide, Though this is rarely the case)
let the grass grow into it on the upper side,
and in one year it will get narrow enough.
At all gulies and washes across which
you wish to carry your ditch, put log
upon the upper as well as the lower side OF
the ditch, as long as the wash is wide. The
size Of the log to be in proportion to the
depth of the gully. The ends Of the log
on the upper side must be placed in the
earth even with the surface. If logs are
placed carefully in this manner in several
places between the bitches, the gully will
soon fA up. Pine brush, if convenient,
may also be used to advantage for this pur-
pose.
StublAe Land is much the easiest dtched
because the surface of the earth is more
smoth, aud it done in summer, Immediately
after the grain is cut, so that grass will
grow on the embankment, it is not SO liable
to wash
The largest gullies may be stopped in
this manner: First, run off your ditch with.
out any regard to the gully, and at the place
where it crosses dig out two places on each
side of the bank of the gully, opposite each
other, above and below where the ditch is
to cross, and as deep as the gully. Cut
logs long enough to reach across the gully,
and fit them in the places dug out in the
sides-then put them in at each place one
upon top Of the other until they are as high
as the bank of the ditch should be to pre-.
vent its running into the guly-then fill up
the space between as high as the bottom Of
the ditch, with dirt, carefully stopping the
cracks between the logs with straw. Put
in single set Of logs every twenty or
thirty feet across the gully between bitches,
in the same manner, then fill up with logs,
brush, or anything that is convenient and
the work is done.
have filled up and am now cultivating
across gullles in this manner-one in par
ticular that was from five to seven feet wide,
and equally deep, about one hundred yards
long.
Lay off the rows for cultivation on level
Plant corn, as well as cotton, in drills. Lay
off guide rows about thirty to fifty feet
apart on ordinary hill sides but as they
will not run parallel upon a level, some
places will be much wider than others. In
the middle of these wide places run another
row upon 4 level, then commence laying of
your rows for planting parallel with the
HrSL rows, dDOVe anu DelOW llteTllateIy, uttn
they meet in the narrow places-then run
upon side of the guide row in the middle
until you have finished. The very short
rows (they will sometimes occur may be
laid Oft by guess.
TO preserve these guide rows when grain
is sown, make the best hand that laid off,
go ahead and run them over This he can
do, very nearly, by counting the rows at
the narrow and wide points. Then take
turning plow and run furrow upon each
side Of it, making ridge. This will enable
you to identify it the next year.
Every time in blowing over a field,
make some of the plow hands clean the
loose dirt out of the bitches, n" twelve
o'clock" while the horses are eating.
know there is great diversity of opinion as
to how land should be cultivated after it is
ditched. Many reasons are given for plans |
differing from that here laid down.
Some contend that the rows should be
laid off so that each one will carry of its
own surplus water. Now, if each row is
to carry off its own surplus water, why
have daches at all9 My argument for
having the rows upon level is, when
there is too great an accumulation Of water
to be retained in the middle Of the rows,
let it come over all the way in one smooth
sheet. and before il cOlccts i'm a hodv sniff.