The free press. (Poplarville, Miss.) 1890-19??, 1923-11-15
"A. 8 M. College Notes


Quoting series, OF terraclng schoois
over the state this winter.
In view Of the fact that the loss
resultant in the soil from erosion
amounts to more than the loss that is
caused by all forms OF insect pests
+ in the state of Mississippi, the crying
need of terracing and drainage to save
! Mississippi soils are very clearly APP
/ aeent. To acquaint the people with the
needs of terracing and drainage and
TO teach them the correct methods
I Of carving on the work this state
! wide program has been adopted which
( several farmers from the leading ag-
iricultural communities may be brought
I The last scientific word in terracing
/ so that they may carry its potential
and constructive value back to their
! respective soil location.
4 The tremendous demand for teirac-
I mo over the state cannot possibly be
i met by the various experts, including
l the A. & M. Extension Force, the
4 county agents, and the county agri-
! cultural high schools. 1t has been
/ estimated that all the terracing done
bv county agents last year would
about terrace the cultivated area OF
one agricultural county OF the state.
/ It is therefore imperative that pro-
pressive farmers inform themselves
with the improved practices and me-
4 thods of soil saving.
| Two Days Of Instructions.
! The work as given out by the agri-
cultural engineer consists Of two days
If comprehensive instructions. One
dav of chalk talk and theory, and
practice of leveling, and soil erosion
ard a second day in demonstration
terrace building with the most econ
omical equipment.
The farmers are especially inter-
ested in the work over the state at
this time not only because Of the fact
that terracing and drainage increases
the value of the land but also because
the government requires that land be
either terraced or drained before
4 money will be loaned on the Federal
i Loan System.
i The schudule for Mississippi as map
4 ped out thus far and not complete
includes the following counties: At
tala county, Nov. 10, 20; Lowndes
i county, Nov. p, %; Noxubee county,
| %, "a; Lauderdale county, 81, %;
Jones county, Nov. 20, 30; Lawrence
county, Dec. 3, a; Marion county,
! Dec. S, 6; Pearl River county, Dec.
~, 8; Harrison county, Dec. 10, II;
Pamela county and Yalobusha county
in January.
i New Method Looks to Nature.
i According to the lecture as deliy-
i cred by Mr.. Copeland it has been
i found through close observation that
soil water taking its free natural
course starts washing small guliies
at regular perpendicular intervals on
Ia hillside. Taking advantage Of that
discovery il is possible to properly
Elocate terraces at the beginning OF
these washes, so as to catch the water
before it starts to remove the soil ard
by giving the terraces fall equal CO
inch per 100 feet times the numoer
az perpendicular feet the washes are
apart. the water will be given its.
natural flow to the low LAID without
! devastating effect.
These further important points
are brought out:
| /. Terrace the BEST lands first,
otherwise the best lands will depreci
ate faster than the poorer lands i'm
prove.
2. Terrace between harvest and seed
bed preparation season. There are
more than enough days for such
work between September first and
April first.
3. The first terrace to build is the
one needed nearest the top Of the hill.
4. Always give the terrace its na-
tdral outlet IN depression valley.
s. Divide terraces on the water d.
vides Of slopes.
z. e:snaild terraces = PC complexion Pc
forit staz<ins s0psne i tex:s ID
/ 4: nuilA terrsce With width enough
70 larry three Gotten rows. Crops
r,r;Sit ~ On terrace banks give grestest
yislas.
!. Ii r1un tie roys 8sh The ter1aees.
AIM III The first 1UW on TIE tesEoee /