The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1915-04-01
SOIL EROSION.
Methods for Prevention in lilly or Roll
ing Country.

Loss from soil erosion in the south
has been found 10 h. a most important
factor in that sections agriculture, by
investigators OF the department. The
loss, in fact. is said 10 b. greater in that
than in any other section of the coun-
try, and wherever hilly land is used
for crops, investigators urge that meas
ures for preventing further damage be
adopted. The results OF the investiga.
ton have Just been published by the de-
psrtment as bulletin No. $50, "Soil Fro.
sion in the South" This bulletin also
contains a study of the problem of ero-
sion in general. which will be Of inter
est TO all farmers in billy or rolling
country.
Terracing is recommended as the best
and most etlicacious method Of control
ling erosion. II should h. supplement
ed however, by deep blowing and the
addition of organic matter 10 the soil
whenever these measures are possible.
Water running rapidly over the sur
face will carry with IL particles Of the
soil and the faster IL runs the more
soil will IL carry In the course Of a
year the amount Of earth that is thus
removed reaches colossal proportions.
Gcologists have estimated that the riv.
ers OF the United states annually carry
20 the sca soil material TO the amount
of 7S3.0eo,0g0 tons. In localities where
this erosion j. carried on 60 an advanced
stage the quality Of the soil is greatly
impaired. a large part Of the soluble
salts are removed. the surface soils are
often washed down to the lowlands. gul.
living 80 dcfaces the land that IL be-
comes difficult 60 cultivate. and the loss
in organic matter frequently causes the
Geld TO be- abandoned as too poor for
profitable agriculture. In the south. il
e. said. erosion i the chief cause of
the abandonment Of land aud in some
sections has caused ~ per cent OF the
arabic land to iie idle.
An methods of preventing soil erosion
are directed toward les=euing the amount
o. water that runs ~ the surfaoe and
increasing the amount that sinks into
the soil II au the water that falls IN
! given ARA were absorbed by the soil
there could b. no erosion. for this rea-
son Vegetation is useful because Il checks
30 fow ~ water and thus affords more
imc for the procrss Of absorption. Heueo /
ne movement for the more general use !
& cover crops On The south. In addition \
10 retardinQ the fow II wBter. such
srors keep the soi more or less open
81 the peuetratign ~ tlssir roots aud
n this uav further facilitate absorption.
peep plgufne VroAscrs somewhat the
.arne elect. bat dos not. ~ russrzr. adH
nv organic mattrr a. the sol which
srpulutps the rrnuulatiar ~ TIRE s8H par
i.ies. ard thus Iiro8ures lsrrfr Spares
stNeen the particles fur the water g.
ira through
Terraeinr. the uzf ~ rrurs. and dep
.l9Wing u.iil unuus@figuaiiF Ereatlr D.
uiriish the loss f-org srostyn. u = als8
'ngusst iniia he arardinr - the iuvrs-
iust0rs- fhat r u1i ray g. % this On
spdfrste slufas IN ths FisariUst rerisn
9 Worth Caraiira the decrease IN erup
alnrs aiuup Hmn o. arUsian has fsefn es-
fsnuted 81 s1 ~ aare reaFiF- runkinr
stal anuusi lass 81 orrr a. sst1fss1 Tie
- That tlssrF are manf hiiir farrus
.i1erF srusiua iss haer stn1Ts8 fnsi-
49, thsf this 1ass 8 ir measure mr.
aeFssArt- nn1 tint De- rs~tatn arsHs q
aust sn1arrr.t ~ Trf@.Et 81 far mn-s
sar SO ~ sr ere ALREADY nisriiunea
! en- ausEags