The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1906-12-01
FARMER AND PLANTER
rnE MAneuM TERRACE.
q Differs From the Ordinary, Being
Terrace and Ditch Combined.

n peffers From the Ordinary, Being
Terrace and Ditch Combined.
have recently learned Of a system |
Of eerracing land that Is new to me
and 90 far as | know will be new to
most al of your readers. In my opin- |
lon this Is a decided Improvement ON
the ordinary terrace and can be de-
pended ON to give satisfaction In the
fullest degree, II properly construct
ed. From what have seen and heard
of these terraces, / believe It wiz be
to the advantage of ail-hiil farmers
If they will adopt It.
A Mr.. Mangam, of North Carolina,
originated the idea, and this style OF
terrace is known as the "Mangum" ter
race. but it seems that he did little
| to bring the matter to the attention OF
| the public. Prof. w. L. Hutchinson.
director of the Mississippi experiment
station, has been building this terrace
for the past nine years.
The Mangum terrace differs from
the ordinary terrace in being ditca
and terrace combined. They are also
different in that old style terrace
causes the loss OF one row Of the grow
ing crop to each terrace, while the
Mangum style causes no loss, as crops
are planted right over the ditch and
terrace the same as II they were not
there.
The old style terrace is built on
perfect level, based on the theory tina;
rains falling ON the land can be held
where they fall or be so evenly dis
tributed over the surface that no wash
, ing will result, but in practice we know
that when heavy rains fall the theory
! Is knocked out and the land more OF
] less washed.
The theory of the Nangum terrace
is that water cannot be prevented
from running, but that it can be made
!. to run slowly. Slow running watsl
does little harm.
The Mangum terrace, ;. as alread,
stated, Is a combination of hillside
!. ditch and terrace, the dirt removed
= in making the ditch being placed OF
the lower side of the ditch, thus form
ing the terrace. Terrace and ditcl
\ should each be at least six feet Wild
and finished terrace Is inches highe
tnan bottom OF ditch. These point
are essential to success and shout
I be carefully observed. In laying GU
these terraces care should be take
to avoid sharp bends or turns, bu
make them easy and. gradual Irreg'
larities in grade should be correcte
by blowing OF bumps or high point
in ditch bottom and placing this dil
on terrace at low points. When tn
work is completed, bottom of ditc
and top of terrace should be uniforl
! In grade, the ditch having no hig
places to obstruct the water and th
terrace no low or weak point th'
would allow a heavy rain to brea
- over.
ne 1t has been found that inches fl
AZ to 100 feet Is about right. Water m
ming over this fall will not was
= but will move with sufficient freedo
to get on the land. Much more tia
z inches to 100 feet has proven
be too steep and allows more or lie
washing.
Their apart than ordinary terraces
stead of feet perpendicular fall frc
:. one to the next one the fall may
as much as 8 feet. This Will dispen
-. with more than half of the total nu
-. Der needed.
There is only one more point to
- noticed. Water will run slowly ali
- 1t comes into this ditch If the dit
~ has been properly made, but it shot
also run slowly in passing over
intervening space from the lower 81
of one terrace to the ditch above
next terrace below. If allowed to I
ecu straight down the hill it will run 4
and will WASH, carrying dirt into
ditch and filing it up, so that it '
IN not carry the water. In order to G
VI duct the watsr into the ditch SLOW
al rows should be run with the same
licn of Z inches to the 100 feet, but in
opposite direction to the fall of
ditcn. In other words If the field
= in such manner that the ditch n
towards the east the rows should Il
towards the west When the RI
M carry water to the ditch in one oil
M ton, the ditch reverses the course
u the water and carries it in nearly
n opposite direction. Reference TO
IA cut will sh,w how these rows
M 1t will be noticed that they 60 RI
M on through the ditcn and over the
M race without causing the loss Oh
. land or requiring turn Of the row
M that point. Wagons, mowers and
M er machines can be driven right acl
All and avoid the necessity of having
VI drive to the end of the terrace to
~ out of the f1eld.-W. e. Williams
Al Southern Cultivator.