Show SIX INCHES OF TOPSOIL it has been said that civilization rests on s six ix inches of topsoil this is not just a dramatic statement it is a fact of nature these six inches are all that stand between us and famine many conservationists believe that before this country was settled by whites the layer of bf topsoil was nine inches thick three inches one third of the original deposit has been lost forever through floods winds erosion and destructive forest and agricultural practices here is why soil conservation is as important a need as this nation knows the federal and local governments have naturally played an important role in the conservation movement but the success or failure of the movement is determined at the level of df the individual farm each acreage of farm or forest presents different problems each requires different treatment the experts in and out of government can provide invaluable advice and other assistance si but they cant do the job that is the individual farm owners and no one alses A comparatively few years ago agriculture lacked I 1 the tools for effective soil conservation and improvement pro no now it has those tools and they are marvelously swift economical and efficient the tractor and all other machines that come from the farm equipment industry make relatively easy what would have been impossible in the past we can and must save that six inches of topsoil on which civilization rests |