The Durant news. (Durant, Miss.) 1882-1985, 1949-01-20

trees; steep and rough lands are
being developed for pasture, hay,
or timber, and cultivated lands
are being used in soil building
rotations, Mr.. Watson said.
In his annual report of the Dis
trict Commissioners of Holmes
County Soil Conservation district,
Mr.. Watson reports cooperators Of
the District have established dur
ing l948 the following:
Acres
Contour Tillage ----.--.--.------------74 76
Cover Crops --.----------------.----- BAT
Crop Residue ---.-.--------..--------8 442
Permanent Pasture --.-------- 5186
Properly Drained -3342
Terraced -----.----------..----------------- 80
Stock Ponds ---------.-----.-----A-.---.-- 100
Winter Grazing $3.50
Woodland Management 1888
Effected Through Cooperation
These accomplishments have
been made possible, he said, only
by close cooperation of the vari-
ous agricultural agencies, civic
organizations, business and pro-
fessional men, the press, and
farmers of the county.
Certain sections in Holmes
county are adapted to various
types of agriculture, the report
brings out. The Delta is ideal for
row crops because of its natural
fertility and flat topography,
making it suitable for the use Of
modern farm machinery
The southeast section of the
hills and strip across the east
ern part of the county from the
flooded area of the Big Black
River and the hill section, is ideal
for grass and row crop farming.
Because of its rolling topography
it is more susceptible to erosion
and requires more complex farm
ing practices to maintain fertili-
ty and prevent erosion.
The bluff section, adjacent to
the Delta, and the northeast Sec
ton, are more adapted to trees,
grasses, and grazing. Because OF
the rough topography and the
highly erosive nature of the soils
within this area, it is very impor-
tant to keep them under vege-
tative cover. Though limited by
local conditions, there are certain
parts of all sections where row
crops may be grown successfully.
Flood Control Begun
Flood control work on the head
waters of Black Creek was starr
ed this year with considerable
progress. Extra personnel have
been added to do this work. Plans
have been made to complete all
practices on a small area in the
upper watershed of Terry creek.
These jobs will include the con-
struction of diversion bitches, out
let bitches, the planting of kudzu,
sericea, lespedeza, and trees, crop
rotation, and pasture improve
ment.
Farmers in the local flood con-
troll area being worked realize
that their row crop land is limit
ed and believe that their future
development lies in livestock,
dairy products. and trees. Flood
control work should increase the
value of the farms within the area
and at the same time protect the
land in the lower part Of the
county from excessive floods and
silt.
It is the objective of the Dis
trict to get some income from
each acre of idle land in the coun-
ty by converting it to the use for
which it is best adapted.
Conservutionists Cited
Sam O. Hall of Goodman has
fenced and utilized part of his
idle land for grazing. He reports
this is paying him a net annual
profit of twenty dollars an acre.
YB. Bruce, of Acona, has fenc-
ed idle land from which he states
he is getting more than fifteen
dollars annual net profit from
each acre of grazing. .
G. H. Love of the Franklin
community, IAN area especially
adapted to grass and row crops,
uses a rotation of oats, legumes
and row crops. He says he has
received thirty-fiye dollars an
nual net profit per acre from the
land by grazing during the years
it was seeded to oats, legumes'
and grasses, and states that keep
ing the land in close-growing
crops three or four years in
creased the organic matter corr
tent, improved the physical con-
dition and fertility of the soil,
thereby making it much easier t.
cultivate.