The journal. (Caldwell, Ohio) 1934-1961, 1960-02-18


but in the long run, much advanc
in the mind of man about 1885
and took its first steps toward
a useful eXistance in 1887 and
reached Ohio May 16, 1941. The
Noble Soil Conservation District
came into being July IA, 1912
and received state acceptance the
following October. There is still
reason to be impatient when we
see so many people of the dis
trlct making little or no attempt
to avail themselves of the service
their district provides. There are
many who are still uniformed
on the urgency of soil and water
conservation.
Districts can not make their
maximum contribution to our
local well being until people
generally know and face the
facts about the future. In fifty
years this nation will have to
fed and cloth and shelter twice
as many people from about the
same amount of cropland as we
use today. The improved techno-
logy of soil and water conserva-
ton and use, brought to the land
through SGD will be one of the
principal means Of meeting that
doubled demand. Not enough
people really understand this
problem. Districts and persons
living in them have the moral
obligation to seek this under
standing. Districts have had a
very great impact on agriculture
throughout the country and in
Noble county.
Flying across this country on
a clear day you'll see many trade
marks of the Soil Conservation
Districts program. Contour
strips to prevent erosion, where
in times gone by the soils of
rolling land were wasted by un-
controlled water. The strip
cropping pattern is an effective
means Of establishing soil con-
serving crop rotations. Farm
ponds were not invented by soil
conservation districts but the
district program has sprinkled
them widely throughout Noble
county to provide better water
and grazing management and
wildlife habitat.
Drainage and other water man.
agement practices have enabled
farmers to make better use of
wide areas throughout the
county, allowing farmers to plant
and harvest crops not possible
without these conservation prac-
tees.
Looking behind the more
dramatic and visible evidences,
it was the SGD program that put
into practical use the basic con-
cept Of classifying land accord
ing to its capability. The idea
of using every acre within its
capability and treating it accord
ing to its individual needs has
been the core of the soil and
water conservation program in
districts.
The eight classes of land ac-
cording to capability can be
readily identified on the photo
included in the basic conserva-
ton plan and the conservation
plan built around the essential
soil and land capability informa-
ton. The conservation plan is
the recorded decisions of farmers
pretaining to the treatment and
use the plans to make on each
parcel of land.
Districts can take much credit
for the wide spread grass land
farming. Many of the most use
full grasses and legumes now in
wide use were developed in nur-
series or plant material centers
established to aid soil conServa-
ton districts.
Soil Conservation Districts
have made tremendous contribu-
tions in farm woodland con-
servation. Future income may be
largely from this source in South
eastern Ohio as the increased
volume and quality reach mer-
chantable size. More than 200
acres are to be planted this year
and many more will be needed
each year until all land is put
to it's Most economic use.
Wildlife have ben f i t d
through the districts program and
made their contribution to meet
ing our human wants whether
for food, sport, or just knowing
that you have it fed, watered and
protected a little better. Ninety
two ponds have been stocked
with fish from the U. S. Fish and
Wildlife Service hatcheries CO.
operating with the Noble Soil
Conservation District.
It would be negligent, not to
mention the one outstanding
significant by-products of the
district movement. That is the
aggressive, non-political, non