The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-10-03
TERRACING OUR HILLS.
THE DITCH FACILITATES THE DEsTRUc-
TIoN OF OUR LANDS.

Common Errors Into which the Am
ateur Terraccr IL Almost Sure 10
FaII...The Terrace Will Lessen the
Floods. Save the Soil, and EnrirI,
the Farmer.
At the recent Farmers State Encampmcnt
at Spartanburg the following paper was read
by Mr.. w. X. Blake, OF Greenwood, $. e:
y terrace is defined to be an elevated level
space of earth supported on one or more sides
by wall or bank of earth. and Is used for
cultivation or n walk. In more rcstrictea
sense, and in its practical application TO agrt-
culture, we may define it to he m elevated
level ridge of earth extending horizontally
across field, the purpose of which Is TO re-
tain the soil, and TO prevent 1t from washing
away. In this sense it is an exceedingly sim
pie contrivance, the value and efficiency of
which do not Mt frst sight appear TO the casu-
nj observer, since 1t requires time TO restore to
the surface that condition which the lapse OF
time has served to destroy.
The terrace is an important factor In the re-
formation of Southern agriculture. 1t Is the
turning point from which we are to begin Its
hcnd its Importance we must consider the
conditions precedent as well as those subse-
quent to Its introduction. History tells us
that in the primitive state of this country our
forests were covered with dense CROWN OF
wild peavines and cane, affording the richest
pasturage for the herds OF deer and buffalo
with which it abounded. The forest timber
was abundant and of the finest quality, en-
bracing all the varieties known to exist in our
Southern land, and virgin soil unsurpassed
in fertility. Our brooks and rivulets were
deep and rs clear as crystal, and fish were
abundant No fairer lands could be found
anywhere.
Such was their primitive state. What a
contrast when compared with the present I!
With the axe of the husbandman this luxu-
RANT growth has been cleared away with i'm
no oefa nd
comparatively little original forest left to dec
crate and beautify the face Of nature. Under
the operations Of the ploughshare the virgin
soil has been wasted and exhausted by q pro-
cess Of incessant depletion-cutting down
End wearing ont-till this once fertile and
productive land presents the appearance of an
almost barren waste. The once clear waters
of the limpid streams have become mingled
with the soil from the adjacent hillsides, and
their channels are well nigh filled up
The reward of the husbandman has steadily
decreased in like proportion, till now the
fields yield scanty Increase where they for
merly gave lavish return for the labor be-
slowed upon them; the denuded hilltops and
undulating surface, Scared with gullies, pre-
sent a vivid picture of the criminal neglect
and abuse of q land unsurpassed In the varie-
ty and value of its products and salubrity OF
its climate. Scarcely more than the lapse Of n
century has suffced to witness so great trans
formation on the face Of our country, and un-
der the same practices OF our people who can
contemplate with indifference the result of
the next hundred years?
How far this state of things is traceable, as a
blighting curse upon us, to the institution Of
slavery, it is not now our purpose, nor would
it be profitable to inquire. It Is enough for us
to realize the facts as they exist, and adjust
ourselves to the remedy.
During this period Of destruction and cX-
haustion it was early seen that something
must be done to arrest 1t, and IN the absence
of better remedy the hillside ditch was re-
sorted to, but only to accelerate and aggra-
vate the evil, for who has not observed the ir-
reparaole damage resulting from the washing
till the entire surface for the space Of rods has
been carried away, leaving nothing but the
barren clay, presenting the appearance of u
vast ulcer on the face Of nature?
Instead of arresting the evil, the hillside
ditch, ms 1t Is ordinarily constructed, only IA
cilitates the escape Of the soil with the water.
They are usually SO injudiciously constructed
that they wash out into unsightly gullies,
which the proprietor is more anxious to ar
rest and fill up than he was to originate. In
such dilemma, therefore, the husbandman
finds himself sorely troubled. If he makes
no attempt to prevent 1t his soil will soon
wash away, and yet the means he employs to
check the evil tends greatly to aggravate 1t.
At this critical period the terrace is intro
duced, and affords the only remedy by which
TO arrest the process of destruction and waste.
The object desired 10 be accomplished Is to re-
tain in the field every particle of soil with Its
ingredients, and the way in which that Is to
be dono Is apparently simple enough-erect q
barrier to prevent its escape. We do not
mean to say that there are no circumstances
or conditions under which the hillside ditch
should be used. On the contrary, on steep
hillsdes, and where the water accumulates in
large volume, the ditch is indispensable, as
proper grade; but, as pule, the rapldity with
which the water passes into and through q
ditch carries with 1t the ingredients it has
gathered up, while the terrace arrests its pro-
rrrn "A oil hny or fn &c cali-
ment.
We hold that no field can be benefited by
the water passing over 1t. Terraces are q sys-
tenn Of dams that hold the water In check and
but damages are sustained SO long rs plant
food is tak6n up in solution, and taken out of
the field along with the coil. We are far from
asserting that everything that Is GallSd 2, ."r-
race exemplifies the value OF such contri-
vance.
A few years agoan agent visited Abbevile
and the adjoining counties Of this State for
the purpose of introducing terraclng instru.
ment. II was the first time the subject had
been brought to the attention Of our farmers,
and he found little difficulty in inducing
them to undertake the tcrraclng of their
lands. With glib tongue ana his skill in
management of his instrument, as we'll aS the
plough, and with cruel emphasis in his ref
erence to the eXlgencies Of the case, he pre-
sented q picture which confirmed to their
minds ovory excellence claimed for the ter
race ana lt;e IAture blessings 10 result ITOn IL.
Soon large areas we're terraced, when sud-
denly the heavy rains descended, the terraces
were all broken and In consequence the lands
were severely washed as they never had been
before, and it was probably we'll for the per-
sonal comfort Of that terracing machine
agent that he was out of reach. With them
the subject of terracing Is not popular. The
truth Is that terraces, as they are usually con-
structed, are not to be relied on till the weeds
and graSs have fnado @ sod then they be-
come dams and permit iho water to pass oyer
without washing them away. When tGey got
into this condition, which is naturally at the
end Of the first or second year, their benefits
begin to be realized. Until then they will re-
quire repairs and are llublo to result In i'm
mense damage a9any time.
Terraces should be laid Off on unbroken
land when practicable, so as to have a hard
basis Oh which to build. Experience has
shown that the proper fall between terraces
should be about three feet. J. common raftcr
level is all the instrument needed to locate It 4;
no great engineering instrument, such as Is
used in measuring mountain heights or on
best prccaution in aid of the terrace, while it
is being established and undergoing the test
Of the first year or two. Is the terrace ditch.
When water starts at the upper end Of q
long slope and passes over succession or ter
races and arrives at the lower end. gathering
volume in its descent all the while, though
the terrace may stand, yet the land will UNI
zontal ditch, with about two inches fall in
twelve feet, located midway between the up
per aud lower terrace lines, will aid in pre-.
venting this.
But the most fruitful source vi disaster 10
the newly made terrace Is It's icSufficlency
idea Of tho terrace is that the intervening
SDopa hptwnrn IFS MINER and 10Nynr hounlu-