The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1886-08-04
OUR FARMERS CLUBS.
What our Farmers are Doing and How
the Work of Organizing is Progressing.
TRINITY CLUB.
Subject-HeaUy Rains and High
Water. ...

Water. 'H..
July 24th, 1886.
WV. Andrews.-We should study
the needs of our lands. To make
our work successful in controlling
waterwe should engineer we'll Some
places require bitches, some dikes
and some dams. If water gets out
of it's proper channels it should be
our aim to keep it as still as posi-
BILE to prevent washing. l have "a
wonderful confidence in still water.
Tn building dikes or dams use bunch
sod. The beaver never makes mis-
takes. He uses such material. Use
no rock. If they are ever to move
they are troublesome. Better take
rock as far away as possible.
DR.. J. Bird.-Experience has
taught me the need of strengthening
our streams. l lost lot ofvaluable
timothy hay this season by this neg
lect. To obviate these losses we
should study the needs of all water
WAYS. Never load small bitches
with more water than they can
carry. Lead them to the main
ditch before they are too long. The
size of ditch depends upon the
amount of watershed, or amount of
space on which it accumulates. We
ought to give water way to pass
off Like horse, give it it's own
way but guide it as straight as you
can. Make sides of bitches at an
angle of 45 degrees. Seed them
with red top or water oats to the
! edge of the water. Don't like willow
on bitches in our small streams.
w. o. Harris.-Ditching amounts
to but little unless those above and
below you fall in line and ditch
theirs On small streams make
dams to hold the water in winter
and catch the sediment. Let offthe
water in the spring and cultivate. |
believe in water furrowing for hill
sides to prevent washing; make
them wide with small slopes at sides.
[ know nothing about terracing. To
construct water furrow commence
at the point where you want it to
discharge or where you want it to
cross ravine, then go as the level
takes you with 2 inches fall in ten
feet. Throw it out with shovel.
Make upper side of furrow lowest
in permanent water burrows. Make
your meadow where it will never
get flooded. Cultivate the land that
is Subiect tO OverfOwS
A. Parker-In controlling water
a man should 60 at it in business
way. fthere be probability of
profit do it thoroughly; if not let it
alone. Like the builder count the
cost before you undertake. Small
bottoms are good to have Of dry
season. Eleven years ago we had a
wet season similar to the present
one. Some say eleven years con-
stitutes cycle. For small streams
cut bitches that will carry the water
at it's highest. Ifrock prevents then
build dams to deaden the water and
catch the sediment.
d. M. Payne.-Rains, when ap-
parently excessive, if rightly con
sidered are blessings. The aerial
elements are stored with plant food.
The rain in it's ascent to and descent
from the clouds becomes charged
with this food which is wisely dis
tributed over the globe. Mans busi-
ness is to store it for the plant. He
is at fault if he fails to perform this
small part of his duty in Gods econ
omy. Two ways are suggested by
which this may be done. First,
water furrowing, second, by terrac-
ing. The object is to retain the
water as near as possible where it
falls till these flood properties are
impaired to the soil, which is done
by filtering. Which of the modes is
better is for our consideration. We
are inclined to think that either, if
we'll done, will accomplish the end
desired. By either we impede in
some degree the sudden flow and
swell of the streams, SO destructive
to our narrow low grounds, the best