The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1885-12-17
Terracing Lands.

We are very glad to see the farmers
becoming so interested in improving
their lands. Of late attention has been
directed to the matter of terracing. The
Abbeville farmers have become thorough
ly aroused, through the publication Of
the Press and Banner. We feel sure that
wherever the matter is brought properly
before the farmers they will take hold Of
| it at once. We have studied the ques.
ton for some time past, and believe that
it opens up very encouraging prospect
for the farmer. Anything that will
enable him to improve his lands aad
increase their yield is blessing to him
and terracipg will do both. 1t will
enable him to enrich his lands great
deal faster, because if they be properly
terraced whatever fertilizers are put on
the lands will remain there until taken
up by the plants and will not be washed
away. 1t will enable him to raise crop
with much less rain, for whatever water
falls on the field will stay there and be
taken up by the soil, instead of being
drained off by the bitches.
Now, one who has given this matter no
| attention probably thinks terracing is a
scientific, complicated process, requiring
| great expense and trouble. Not so; on
| the contrary, it is the simplest thing in
the world. With the proper instrument,
which costs only few dollars, anybody
of ordinary sense can terrace lands. The
proper instrument, or the best, is the
McCurry patent, costing $500. This
consists of an iron frame about foot
square and having spirit level on two
adjacent sides. This rests horizontally
on a Jacobs Staff of the proper height.
The square iron frame is quickly leveled
by means of set screws. The only other
| instrument needed is pole, with feet
measured on it. Now you are ready.
Measure by the pole the height of the
iron level from the ground-suppose 6
feet-then put the bulls eye" at 8 feet
on the pole and give it to your assistant,
who carries it while you "sight" at it.
Wherever the level and the BULBS eye are
on level, the assistant makes mark OF
the ground, and goes few feet farther
and gets the bulls eye right again. nov
ing backwards or forwards in accordance
|. with signals from the man at the level,
and making mark wherever the level
is found. Then plow is taken and 8
deep furrow is run along the course
marked out; two more furrows are
thrown to this, and you have a terrace.
a whole field can be terraced in little
while. When the,terraces are made, the
rows must all run parallel with it. Then
each row will hold its own water, being
on the same level from end to end.
There will be no washing and breaking
over, as in hillside ditching, and the
water, unless it is very heavy rain, will
all remain on the field.
The Observer called on Mr.. Henry S.
Boozer, n, Prosperity, Saturday, nrs lad
a long talk with. him on the s%oject of
terracing. Mr.. Boozer has tried terracing
and says its benefits have not been exag-
gerated. He thinks it is the very thing
to save and improve the land. He says
no one should be deferred by any imagi-
nary trouble in tcrracing; if it is very
simple and is easy and pleasant work.
This article is not written to boom
anyboiy's "leveler," but because We want
to call the attention of the farmers to the
benefit of terrscing on their own account.
If thy will investigate the matter we
feel sure the last one of them will aban.
don hillside bitches and go to terracing,
and that they will find it q great improve.
ment.-Ne,rbcr1y Observer.