COTTON CULTURE 15 



ishing the flow of water, largely prevents damage by 

 washing. 



The only effective check against washing of soils, es- 

 pecially subject to it, is terracing. This consists in laying 

 the slope off into slips parallel with the contour of the 

 elevation; that is, at right angles to the slope. By this 

 means, level steps independent of each other are made, 

 and the slopes between them are seeded to grass and thus 

 sod-protected. The foundation lines of the terrace may 

 be accurately laid off only by means of a regular terracing 

 level, preferably one with telescopic sights. Such an 

 instrument will cost from ten to twelve dollars. The 

 old-fashioned "rafter" level does fairly well for running 

 grade rows or grade ditches, but is not at all reliable 

 for locating a "dead-level" line, which is the essential 

 of the terracing system. The makers of the improved 

 levels usually supply a printed manual of instructions 

 for the guidance of beginners. 



Each step thus made is plowed by itself, a side-hill 01 

 a reversible disk-plow being used, and the furrows are run 

 back and forth along the edge of the land instead of around 

 it, and are turned down hill. The steps gradually become 

 level. The practice of throwing up a considerable bank 

 or dam along the line of the terrace is not to be commended, 

 even though effective in preventing the water from escap- 

 ing, with destructive force, to the step below. It is better 

 to make the edge of the terrace perfectly level from end to 

 end, and without any bank or dam to pond up the water 

 along and above its course. The correct theory is to 



