Evening star., 1946-03-03


recently voted to join Loudoun and
formation of a Northern Virginia S
cooperation with the Virginia Soil C
technical assistance in combating
the erosion problem.
1t may surprise many to learn that
Fairfax County has an erosion prob
lem. Visitors are usually conscious
of wide pastures, fat dairy herds
and fields of green corn. Fairfax
is not "steep" county, usually
associated with eroded land.
The need for soil conservation
program is dramatically shown each
year when flooded streams run
heavy with mud that once formed
the fertile top-layer of soil on
cultivated fields.
We can see the muddy rivers, and
we know the mud they carry comes
from the land. There are other
types of erosion, however which,
although they are less apparent,
are far more deadly to the land.
Sheet erosion-when a thin layer
of soil is removed each year over a
wide area-often continues unnoticed
for years until a farmer finds his
fields depleted.
Pasture Land Affected.
While Fairfax has land that has
been quilted by washing rains, and
farms that have been allowed to be-
come depleted, some of its appar-
entity rich pastures are also found to
be suffering from soil depletion.
Through its membership in the
Northern Virginia Soil Conservation
District, Fairfax will be able, for the
first time, to approach the problem
of soil erosion and depletion in
scientific way.
Farmers will have available tech
nlcal assistance in soil analysis, soil
types, drainage. erosion control and
advice on the farm woodlot, from
which experts believe a large per-
centage of the future lumber supply
must come.
Analysis of soils on Fairfax farms
will show the amounts of lime and
fertilizer needed for maximum crop
production, and through soil typ
ing farmers will learn which crops
are best suited to various fields.
After a study of county farms, the
best methods Of stopping erosion
will be planned for each. Where
farms are on rolling land, crops may
be planted on the contour, and pas
lures that are beginning to WASH
may be furrowed on the contour
at intervals, to prevent loss of top
soil. For sleeper land, terracing
may be planned to prevent forma-
ton of gullies.
In contour planting. fields are
ploWed on the level, following the
contour of the hills. Crops are
planted in strips-a strip of corn,
a strip of small grains, strip of
hay or some legume and, finally
another strip of corn. These strips
may vary from so to 300 feet in
width, according to the steepness
Of the land They form a barrier tc
prevent top soil from washing of. as
the mat-rooted plants anchor the
soil, and their dense growth catches
the sediment washed from the open
cultivated strips.
Terraces Correct Faults.
Where the land is too steep for
erosion to be controlled by contour
planting, terraces may be construct
ed to form level planting areas
Since the crops on these hills will
be planted on level ground. there
will be little tendency for erosion to
occur.
After erosion has been stopped,
Fairfax farmers will be able to de-
termine, through soil analyses al
ready made, just what nutrients
their fields require for maximum
production. They will know when
these nutrients are drilled into the
soil, they will not disappear through
erosion.
Since Fairfax is primarily a dairy
county. this will mean higher milk
production at less cost. 1t also will
mean greater prosperity for more
farmers, with a resulting higher
purchasing power
10 washington residents it will
mean a greater source OF raw milk,
since the county's entire milk pro-
auction goes to the WASHINGTON
market.
Already few Fairfax farmers
have taken advantage of scientific
soil conservation methods. Two
years ago, a specialist was borrowed
from the Culpeper Soil Conservation
District to plan crops and contours
for four farms.