Show TO PREVENT EROSION OF FERTILE LAND TERRACING IS MOST EFFECTIVE METHOD A ftp t al r Z TP V terrace bank thrown up with a road scraper prepared by the united states department of agriculture erosion injures or practically ruins fertile land bottom as well as hill lands suffer from the ravages of erosion terracing ts is the most effective method of stopping erosion other means of reducing erosion that should be employed in connection with terracing are deep ploll plowing ng growing cover crops plowing under organic matter contour plowing and under draining there are two distinct types of terraces the bench terrace and the ridge terrace the bench terrace is particularly fitted for use on steep slopes while the ridge terrace is especially adapted for use on moderate slopes the ridge terraces are divided into two classes the narrow base and the broad base both may be laid out level or with a fall along the terrace to carry the water off at a low velocity the broad base terrace can be cultivated and can be crossed readily by large farm machinery without injury to the terrace the narrow base terrace does riot not possess either of these advantages and under ordinary circumstances is less desirable than the broad base type however when laid out level it Is sometimes cultivated successfully on very sandy soils that hat are capable of absorbing large quantities of water levei leve ridge terrace the broad base level ridge terrace Is laid out absolutely level tills this more nearly meets the requirements ot of an ideal terrace than any other type its distinct advantage over a tarrace with fall Is that practically none of the fertile parts of the soil are removed from the field it is particularly ticul arly suitable tor for use on open permeable soils when used in connection with tile drains on any type of soll soil it unquestionably Is the most effective method ever employed to stop erosion the broad base graded ridge terrace generally known as the langlim terrace possesses all the advantages of the broad base level ridge terrace with the exception of the one stated in the preceding paragraph it may be used on any type of soil but Is recommended om tor for use only on soils sells where the broad base level ridge terrace without tile drainage cannot be used successfully erosion Is reduced to a minimum in the terrace channel by carrying the water off the field in a broads broad shallow sheet at a low velocity it has been found that average soils are not washed much in broad terrace channels where the fall doom loo not exceed 6 inches in feet and it Is recommended that this fall never be exceeded however wever even with this fall some washing occurs and sonia some rich soil particles are carried oft tile the field hence a graded terrace should lic be given no more fall than Is necessary to remove tile the runoff run off water without danger of the terrace being over topped lopped the terraces may be laid out with a uniform or a variable fall the best results are abt obtained a ined where the variable fall Is used since it t tends ends to prevent the concentration of the water at the lower end of the terrace also less washing occurs where tp ahr 0 variable fall is used the provision for suitable outlets Is one of the biggest problems in terracing work natural water courses make the best outlets sometimes it Is necessary to construct ditches for use as outlets where natural draws gullies or roadside ditches are used they should be protected from erosion by building across them brush concrete stop plank or soll soil saving dams the growing of grass in draws used for outlets is especially recommended the work of laying oft off terraces should be done carefully preferably by an experienced man the best instruments st are arc tile the farmers small telescopic level and the engineers large level evel the plow and the V drag are most generally used for building up terraces other implements sometimes used are the steel ditcher or the slip scraper the disk plow and the road grader at crossings ot of draws and gullies the slip scraper Is 19 used to build up the high terrace embankment ban han kment it is very important that the top of the terrace be built to the proper grade tile the upper terraces of a field should always bo be built first care and attention terraces require considerable cart card and attention particularly during the first year after they ate aie built they should be inspected after every heavy rain and any breaks or weak places repaired immediately the best results are obtained when the crop rows are run parallel to the terraces in order to maintain the height anit and width of the terrace a cultivated terrace should be plowed at least once each year and tile the soil roll should bo be thrown to the center of the terrace X I 1 w ilk lines of terrace located by plowing two furrows together |