The Marietta journal. (Marietta, Ga.) 1918-1944, 1920-01-30
ADVISORY BOARD FOR COBB
The Broad-Row Graded Terrace

every instance we Ilnu Lno narrow
ridge level terraces in use with grass
and weeds growing on them. With
the present high price of farm land
it is important that every foot of
ground be made to produce some
thing. l know of no better way to
accomplish this end than to construct
and put into use good system of
broad-row graded terraces on all land
that is not too steep.
In this method of terracing the
terrace is laid off by the use of q
level A uniform fall Of to inches
in 100 feet should be allowed on
moderately steep lands and proper
tionately less on rolling lands. This
must be changed to meet local con-
ditions. The distance between ter
races is also governed by the steep
ness of the land. On average slop-
ing land the terraces should be closer
together than 60 to 80 feet from CEN
ter to center. This will be about 8
feet apart on the perpendicular as
read on the rod. On gently rolling
lands with only slight tendency to
wash the terraces can safely be 100
feet apart. The broad-row terraces
need not be as close together as the
narrow ridge terraces for they are
more efficient. On steep slopes the
terraces must be closer together to
keep the water from getting the least
start.
In beginning the work of terracing
a field, the operator should start at
the top of the hill, about where the
first terrace is necessary.
In laying off the line of terrace
the operator should look for good
outlet. On hills that slope both ways
it is advisable to carry the water in
both directions. if outlets can be had
The main differences between this
and other methods of terracing is in
the construction of the dixie or en-
bankment and in the use to which the
embankment put after it is COM
pleted. The construction is much
easier and more economical than at
first would be thought possible. The
The embankment can be made largely
with the pillow by tapping on the un-
broken ground and throwing burrows
t othe center until the desired width
is obtained. The width will be gov
erned by the ideas of the maker. A
bank wide enough for three rows is
preferred. Such a bank allows a
center row on top of the embankment
with another row on each side. Then
a V shaper drag or steel ditcher may
be used to obtain the proper height.
The top of the terrace should be
about Is inches above the bottom of
the channel above the terrace.
Distractions will have to be NOV
ed, of course, depressons ior gullies
filed. and the entertainments at these
points built up and strengthened to
correspond with other parts of the
terrace. The one important feature
is to make it strong enough to stand
against any possible pressure.
When the entertainments have been
completed, run the rows parallel with
ChC4l' bSSIlIl4IS Will tno llfSC row
on top of each dixie, run off in pairs
from each side, letting the short rows
come in the middle. The rows on the
terrace can be cultivated the same as
the others, provided the terrace is
made with the right grade and is
broad enough. This method of ter
racing leaves no room for a crop of
weeds, but utilizes all the land in the
field. AS each individual row has
fall, the water will be carried out bv
it, but so slowly that the greatest
amount possible will be taken up by
the land before it can run off. Should
enough water accumulate to run
across the ordinary rows, the terrace
row will check and hold it until it
can be gradually taken up by the
land or carried slowly to the outlet.
No trouble is experienced in running
cultivators, mowers, binders, or wag-
ons on the terrace or across the field
in any direction. There is no cues
ton that this method is better than
any one yet used, and any farmer.
| 1t matters not how small his farm
or limited his means, can practice it.
provided his land is not too steep.
/