Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-01-01
TERRAC|NG TO PREVENT
LOSSES BY SOIL WASHING
Soil Erosion Costs Virginia
Farmers Thousands of
Dollars Annually.
SERIOUS PROBLEM IN COUNTIES
&. IL. Scltx. Agricultural Engineer.
EItcnsfon Division, v. i. l.. de-
HcrIbcs the iIench and Ridge Types
of Terraces ns Mast Suitable.
by q. r.. SeItE,
Agricultural Engineer. Extension
Division,

Division.
Soil erosion. or tho washing away
of earth by wator. costs the farmers
year. Soil erosion occurs In every
county OF tho State and constitutes
serious problem In at least fifty
counties. Erosion Injuries or practi-
cully ruins fertile land; bottom as
well rs hill land suffers from It's raw
ages; thousands OF acres that have
been abandoned because of excessive
erosion ccul"s have been saved by
proper preventative measures.
Soil erosion is due largely to the
too rapid movement of surface water
after heavy rains Preventative
measures therefore will consist In the
proper control of the surface run-ofr
Surface water must be carried down
the hill at a velocity not great enough
To cause erosion. Terracing is the
most effective method OF controlling
this surface water. Other methods
OF control. some of which should bc
employed with terracinE, are deep
plowing. growing cover crops, plow-
ing under organic matter, the use ,;
earth dams. brush and straw. sod
strips, cantour blowing and under
draining.
There are two distinct types of ter
races--thc bench and the ridge ter
race. The former Is particularly
fitted for use on steep slopes. while
the latter is well adapted for use on
moderate slopes. Ridge terraces are
divided into two classes. those with
narrow bases and those with broad
bases. The broad base or "AIangum"
terrace is the type most generally
used in the South. These terraces
do not interfere with farming oper-
atoms, as they can be cultivated and
readily crossed by farm machinery
without injury to the terraces, broad
basc" terraces consist OF broad ridges
Of earth following the contour of the
land at vertical intervals OF from
three to five feet, and having a grade
not exceeding six inches 10 the hun.
drcd feet. y field tcrraced in this
manner presents the appearance of 4
series of gentle waves. Erosion is
reduced to minimum in the terra =
channel by carrying the water Off
the field in n broad. shallow sheet u.
II low velocity. Broad base" terraces
cannot be used where the slope oi
the land exceeds fifteen feet per hun
drcd
The work OF laying off terraces
should he done carefully with an en-
ginecrs level, preferably by an cx-
pcricnccd man. An ordinary walking
plOW ana Al N-Sn1pcu SruucT Dr
ditchcr are the best tools for con-
strurtinE the terraces. The terrace
is marked out by plowing furrow
along a line Of stakes previously set.
Three or four more burrows are
plowed, al! dirt being thrown to che
center This is followed by after
nate rounds with the grader and
piow until the terrace is from fifteen
to twenty feet wide and eighteen
inches higher in the center than at
the pillow lire. y weak point Is like
~ to develop wherever terrace
crosses n gully. At such places the
terrace should he built higher and
wider than at other points. Terraces
require considerable care and attcn-
ton, particularly during the first year
after they are built. They should bo
inspected after every heavy rain. and
any breaks or washed places repaired!
at once.
Farmers needing work OF this char
nctcr should set In touch with their
county agent or write to the agricul.
tural engineering department, v. r
l., Wackshurg. Va. and arrange for
Il representative OF this department
TO put on tcrracinS demonstration
ia their community.