The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1886-10-22


iug to inquiries elsewhere, mention is made
Of a recent visit to the farm of Mr.. Ormc,
near West Point, Georgia. 1t is an bisto-
rio farm, the first terracins of land in the
manner now SO generally practiced having
been done there. A former owner OBJ
serving that ap old billsids ditch ran
idsafy on q ievel. and which had become
fliedi up aud overgsown with
weeds and grass, had caugh. the washings
From above and saved the soil, conceived
the idea that narrow bed or dam run on
level would do the sane thing. He pro-
ceedcd to construct some of these, and
thinking that the edgo of a terrace more
than three feet high would be very incon-
venient in field, located them at such
itances apart that the difference in level
between two successive ones should be just
that amount. Subsequent experience has
shown that he hit upon the very best dis
tance. When Orme subsequently pur-
chased the farm, ho quickly perceived the
value of the discovery, aud terraced all his
land as rapidly as it was brought into cul-
tivation. The result is simply marvellous.
Without hillside ditch on the place, and
entirely through the agency of terracing,
steep hillsides, which were formerly defaced
by great gullies, have changed into smooth,
level terraces, susceptible of highest cult
vation. Where the lines of level had been
correctly run, the results were perfect !;
in few instances, incorrect running had
caused slight washes. We saw terraces
which were established some fifteen years
ago. The soil had accumulated on their
upper sides until the intervening surface
had become almost or quito level, just as
it appears in yards and gardens where the
work is done with spade and shovel.
a little bed along the line Of level is
thrown up BY two burrows cf large plow,
the centre of the bed not beiug disturbed
and remaining firm. This strip about a
foot wide under the bed, is very important,
as it prevents the bed from being cut
through by heavy rains before the growth
of grass and weeds have strengthened it..
TO facilitate this strengthening, grass seed
are sown on tho beds rs soon as they arc
thrown up-bluc grass perhaps the best for
the purpose. Nothing moro is required
but to repair any point through which water
may have cut before the bed was well es-
tablished, to NOW down every year the
weeds, bushes or briars that may have
sprung up, and to plow we'll down to the
upper edge of the terrace border TO keep
it from windening too much. Tho lower
edge of the border should be kept nicely
trimmed by running the plow near it, but
care should be taken never to undermine it
IF these rules are observed, the unculti
vatcd terrace border will not-excced n foo
and half in horizontal width, though it,
vertical height may reach three feet.
Such is the process by which broken
billy farm has been held firm against tn.
ravages of water, aud which, by judioiou.
cultivation and manuriug, has been made
one of the most beautiful and valuable iu
the country. If the terrace border on bed
can only be held until it becomes firm and
filed with roots, the battle is won. If it i,
broken, promptly repair it, and as Mr.
Orme's experience clearly demonstrates, yor
will finally succeed. His land is now nc
more liable to wash than tho most gen ii,
incliued planes. The manure put upon /
is in no danger of being carried into tn,
sea. He holds both soil and manure irml,
in his grasp. Pointing to the soil which
has been held by the terrace border, ant
which, in some cases, had accumulated t
the depth Of two and half or three feet
Mr.. Orme very persinently asked: Wha
would have become of that soil if only
hillside bitches had been present? Woult
it not all have been washed into and car
ried away by those bitches? We coult
not answer no. Our faith in terraces ha
been greatly strengthened by inspecting
this farm. They have been tested-testet
by prolonged time (ffteen years., tested OF
deep declivities and on gentle inclines, ant
tested on variety of soils in each ant
every case the verdict is, successful.-At
ianta Constitution.
T--e-