Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1883-03-15
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HILL SIDE DITCHING.

in recent numbers of the Ctthtiuotoa' upon
the subject of Hillside bitches, suggest the
sSsyps tss jegai 1Ifs 4 ssSs stss sPRisIaa M I'm
published in Nashville, and in the agricul
tural reports from Columbia, S. c.; but
have been ignored or overlooked by the
farmers seeking information in this direc-
ton. And it is with some misgivings that
another article of the same sort is now Of
fered to the Cuhivator. An experience of
twenty years induces the belief that hill
side bitches, however we'll placed, or nicely
proportioned, are worse than useless on
average hill-side4and. Ly IN
Inathe Hfss plaee, the ideaiof hurry the
water off of the land appears to be an er-
roneous one One of the chief advantages
of level land is it's power to retain showers;
this, it seems, should be the principle as
far as practicable, to guide us in the man.
agement ofhill-sides. Without attempting
to answer in detail the several we'll written
articles above referred to, and giving, per-
haps, the best rules for laying off hillside
ditch within my experience has ever ac-
complished the purpose for which it was
lasSnd9f aaa aA{ tsssrSaHg s ths
hillside, the advantage of shower, itself,
is in great measure lost, besides the ad-
ditionaI loss of a part Of the soil, and per-
haps the best part, which must 60 with
each running shower. The accumulation
of water ip large bulk, as in hillside ditch
es, seems to be another serious objection;
for the greater body of water, the greater
quantity of soil it removes, and consequent
ly the greater the loss of plant food sustain
ed, and the greater the mischief done when
the ditch Breaks and break it will sooner
or later. Again, the tendency of both earth
and water is downward, consequently any
disturbance of the soil Immediately above
the ditch, either by rains, freezes, cultlVa-
ton or anything else, increases the decllvl-
ty towards the ditch, and therefore necessa-
rily defeats to that extent the purpose OF
the ditch ITSELF In the run of years this
trouble will increase into a general waste
of soil still farther above, and end eventu-
ally in barrenneSS or succession OF little
washes making to the ditch. In addition,
the keeping of the hillside bitches in good
ed edsYr 81 sss = q kW obissadh5 % t6 tfe Hillside
as preserver of land, and enough, it is
thought to condemn it in the practice of all
thinking farmers. More recent, though
less extensive experience, earnestly advo-
Gates terracinq as a substitute for hillside
ditching, as giving better results and with
far less cost of both land and labor. These
may be constructed as hillside bitches are,
with the same implements, only observing
to run them on level, throwing the dirt
above instead of below, taking care to plow
up to the foot of embankment, formed so as
to leave hDs place fofiWater to- o6aect or run.
Weeds and grass springing up on the bank
thus formed, will soon bind the earth to-
ho n tho 6Oyyn-
ward progress of water and soil besides
diffusing the water accumulated above over
the land, and causing it to percolate the earth
rather than flow overthe surface. The con-
tinuous growth of grass and weeds aids the
farmer if thus begun, which, with little
attention once or twice each year, repairing
broken places and adding to the height Of
the embankment by additions, always from
below, will soon form "a leXel space. about
the terrace; thus adding to IT'S strength and
increasing the fertility of the soil immedi-
lately above. These structures, placed at
proper intervals, closer where the decllvlty
is great, and farther where it is less, will
form a succession of levels which will re-
tain all of the water of an ordinary shower,
and give the best protection against the
heaviest. Gullies will soon begin to fill up,
and afterwards become the highest and
perhaps the most productive portion of
the field.
In laying off rows perfect level should
be observed, as far as practic able.--r.-a--e-o-.
By laying off from abeye and 2! q below fhe
short rows (which should ALSO keep the
level. will be thus thrown to the middle
ground between the terraces, and some
What facilitate the work, beside preventing
the accumulation Of swaterzat any given
point. The idea being to spread the water,
as you would any other fertilizer, evenly
lover the surface.
Deep blowing and level culture may ma
'terially aid in this important work.-Cor.
Southern GlNiUat0r. .:..4