Polk County news. [volume] (Benton, Tenn.) 191?-1983, 1921-09-15
MILLIONS IN SOIL. WASHED
ANNUALLY FROM HILLSIDES
Destructive Work of Rains Can Be Prevented In
Large Measure By Terracing and Damaged
Lands Made Cultvab!e and Profitable
CBy H. B. Bliss, Rural En- gineering specialists.)

When war conditions sent agricul-
turists searching for new sources OF
commercial fertilizer, they went TO the
lakes and oceans. What they found
there was the fertility that had washed
down through countless ages from
some of the very lands they sought TO
enrich Viewed in this light, 1t was a
painful case Of restoration-rollng the
pebble up the hill only to have 1t
hurled down again by the rain demon.
Scarred-out hillsides and wide washes
in Tennessee alike show the tribute
which this section has to pay to soil
erosion. The toll is estimated at $lOo,-
OO0000 a year.
Millions of Acres Ruined.
The National Conservation Congress
of 1909 reported that4, 100000 acres of
farm land had been practically ruined
by this means. Every freshet tears
the hillsides to pieces and coffee col
ored streams show the tribute that is
paid. When the storm is over, the soil
is gone and so is the water which
might have been retained to- moisten
plant roots. The farmer often reflects
ruefully that if the water which tears
his farm 10 pieces in few hours could
be distributed over the entire period of
time it would result in a benefit in
stead of an injury. Rich bottom lands
are often covered with deposits OF
sand washed from. the hill lands.
Damage from erosion can be pre-
vented in large measure by terracing,
and lands which We're deteriorating
seaA be niatfe cultivable and sfetltas /
bic Terracing is carried on on a large
scale in many Southern States and Is
rap lly gaining favor among ths farms
ers Of Tennessee.
Hundreds of acres of hillside lands
as tennessee have been reclaimed byt
terracing during the past twelve
months In some counties the county
agents have found it almost impossible
to meet the demands for this work fol- |
lowing a few demonstrations which
have shown its value.
Mgny demonstrations in terraclng
have been planned by various county /!
AGENTS for this fall and winter and
every farmer who has hillside land
should attend them and get first hand
information on this important work.
Hillside Land of State Washing Away.
Thousands Of acres of hillsides OF
Tennessee are becoming less pro,
ductive every year because OF sheet
and gulley washing. Many of the hills
that were once fertile are now un-
profitable to farm. There is growing
d satisfaction among the farmers as
their land becomes poorer and poorer
necesstating the use of commercial
fertilizers. lime, manure and plant
huuus which only wash away again
with the first gushing rain, and leaves
the soil of the hillsides badly cut up J
with gullies which grow rapidly from
wear to year into large bitches that
cannot be crossed by teams. Farmers
are getting tired of having their land
wash as deep as it is plowed In places
each year.
This loss through soil erosion has
created demand for some way to
control the water, and prevent waste
of plant food elements washing, AS
result, method of water control with
terraces has been developed which not
only stops the washing but holds the
water on the hillsldes, changing the
water from destructive agency to
constructive agency, thus having the
soil. the humus, the moisture. and in
creasing the crop yield. The value. OF
terracing has become so Indispensable
IN The complete control of washing that
men have been hired to study the art
OF terracing from a scientific point OF
view in hopes of developing terrace
that Is easily constructed and 100 per
cent efficient. With this In mind years
have been spent In developing what Is
known as the broad terrace which en-
ables the farmer to farm right over
them as though they were not there