Show SOIL EROSION ON SLOPING TRACTS No Slope Steeper Than 15 Degrees Degrees Degrees De De- De- De grees Should Be Cleared for Best Cultivation J JO TO PREVENT SERIOUS HARM o One of the Most Effective Methods of Thwarting Soil Washing Is by 4 A Terracing Terracing Stops Stops Washing Away of ot Land on Hillsides f 1 Prepared Prepared by the United States Department Department Depart Depart- ment men of ot Agriculture The Tue farmer fanner who contemplates contemplates clear clearIng clear clear- v Ing Jog a u wooded tra tract t which Is more or less uneven unc In character should maket make t sure flure that If It clear cleared d It will not nol suffer r from erosion How steep a slope of of wooded land can an safely be cleared t i for farming depends largely all the Oh the tue character of the soil soli It has ofte been heen said that no slope steeper than 35 15 5 degrees should be cleared and s s a general rule this probably holds good However not Infrequently sl slopes pes of ot otle le less Jess s than thun 15 degrees show show- serious ero ero- slon flon under cultivation while o lily lIlly others t Of f 20 degrees and more show no serious results The ques ques- lion therefore Is one oue that must be beI j- j I settled f f for r each locality or ev even n for fori 0 i each tract In Case of Do Doubt bt Usually the lie farmer fanner who Is In- In doubt In-doubt doubt Cnn nn can find In the vicinity a n i piece of cleared clE land similar In character to lils his own own wn and can judge his 1113 problem by the ilie condition of the cleared area aren In rase case of doubt the safest course l Is to leave lea th the lie land u according to tolie th the lie forest service Some erosion must be expected on on Jill sloping land clearer cleared for cultivation hut where the tract tract- Is really suitable i- i f for lr farming however hO the erosion n ran un Bad Dad Erosion Results From Clearing Land of Too Steep Slope be reduced sufficiently to prevent serious se so- rious harm The general principle to tobe tobe tobe be kept In mind Is to prevent surface run runoff rr as al far as possible Water that thatIs Is absorbed by the soil soli not only causes Cluses no erosion roslon but but- Increases but increases the supply of or ground water water- water diminishes diminishes drought feeds the lie streams and maintains a steady flow In adjoining streams Terracing Is Effective One of ot the most effective c methods of preventing erosion on on sloping cultivated cul cul- eul- eul land Is t terracing a subject well worth special Investigation by the farmer who wishes to till sloping tracts and at the same time keep the good soil on the upper areas from being be be- ing washed down the tIle hillsides |