The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1946-09-19
.ABLEL AN -
4 FARMING ~
\ weekly discussion devoted 10 the
Land and Farms of Garrett County,
edited by John Carter, County Agent,
and W W. Mace, Soil C0nscryationist.

So often you hear man say,
Soil Conservation is a very good
thing and on some farms, like my
ncighbor's down the road here. his
soil washes badly, but | don't have
any wash ON my place" When a man
makes that statement. we know that
his observations are limited to the
severe, last stages of erosion. namely:
Gully Erosion. He has not noticed
that gradual insiduous. loss Of the
best and most important part of his
farmland, the topsoil, by sheet ero-
sion, or he has observed it from time
TO time and discounted it's Importance.
Such observations are so natural that.
except in advanced stages, it is not
always easy to show that man in
practical way the seriousness of his
situation. Production reduced few
bushels Of grain per acre-hay reduc-
ton Il part of a bale-pasture reduced
to a shorter season or a minor reduc-
tiOil III va y III apathy. uGSC
things are ordinarily so minute as to
go un-noticed, and often are over
come by the use Of improved seed OF
fertilizer or by improved methods of
handling. The Importance of the loss
of the topsoil thru sheet erosion cam
not be overlooked, nor can its abate-
ment be over stressed.
Before white men settled Garrett
County, the entire county was covered
with lush forest growth, which re-
ceived the rainfall with satisfactory
absorption of most Of the rain, and
slowed down the flow of surplus rain
water to a safe gradual lunoff into
the streams and rivers of the area
Thus nature did maintain a balance
between the amount of rainfall and
the protection Of the soil from the
detrimental effects of that rainfall.
When the white men came to Garrett
County, they cut the forests away,
built homes and established farms in
an area in which nature had achieved
a balance by means Of the forest
cover Thus was the balance af ma
ture disturbed: Grasses, grains and
row crops were established where
trees were meant to be.
By the nature Of humanity. we can
not give up this farmland to nature,
but we can reach better balance and
agreement with nature by following
the principles, proven by test thru
the ages, which will most effectively
hold water in its proper place, and
with it the soil Especially that vital,
living portion-The TopsoiD, thus
achieving a practical balance with ma
ture. You have often heard about and
occasionally seen in Garrett County,.
the majority of those principles in.
action Contour Strip Cropping, Di-
version Terraces. Lengthening of Ro-
tations, Conversion to Pasture,
Treatment (Top-dressing and NOW
ing), Tree Planting. Protection of
Woodland from Grazing, Drainage Of
flat, wet lands, announcement of
misunderstanding Wildlife by Provid-
ing Food and Cover Paintings for
Wildlife.
All Of the measures advocated for
erosion control are based on the cold
facts of production which are
measured in dollars and cents return
to the people of the land, and have
been proven the world over. The
greatest obstacle to the application Of
these principles-to the adjustment Of
land in Garrett County and its most
efficient use is the fact, that as a
rule, we do not see the ravages Of
erosion that has resulted from dis
turbing the balance of nature until
erosion is so far advanced that gull
lies are beginning to appear. When
that stage is reached, the valuable
portion Of the soil has already been
lost-washed away by the rains fall