14 



BULLETIN 180, U. S. DEPAETMENT OF AGEICULTTJEE. 



question of the better orchard practice is still a mooted one. Such use 

 for hilly lands is described by Smith ^ and by Seymour.^ 



CHECKING EROSION. 



In places where erosion has begun, but has not advanced beyond 

 the formation of small washes, it may be checked by filling these 

 incipient gullies with brush, straw, or leaves. Contour plowing 

 across such places is necessary under clean culture to prevent washing. 

 Any field which is steep enough for the development of gulHes should 

 be terraced. 



A method which has been used, so far as known, in only one 

 locality is the construction of '' Christophers." (See fig. 1.) This 

 consists of building across the mouth of the incipient gully a dam 

 of earth or stone to hold back the surface run off and keep it 

 on the field. The distinctive thing is the way in which the storm 

 waters are disposed of. Passing through the dam is a sewer pipe 

 connected with an upright pipe on the upper side of the dam. The 

 water fills the valley until it reaches the height of the upright pipe, 

 when it flows through this into the next field. The water left stand- 





^VfS^''/4^'/// 



SEDIMENT 



J^' 



■^ 



EARTH DAM 



J^' 



Fig. 1. — A " christoplier" with tile drain connection. 



ing below the mouth of the upright pipe is removed gradually by a 

 tile drain laid along the valley and connected to the sewer pipe. 

 Rushing water is checked in the valley and deposits its burden of 

 sediment ; the water is removed largely by seepage into the tile drain 

 and the ground remains in good condition for tillage. 



This method is too expensive for ordinary use, but in cases where 

 it is necessary to use tile drains and the soil washes badly, this is an 

 excellent means of preventing the wash. This method was developed 

 by Mr. John Adams, of Johnson County, Mo., and has been adopted 

 by a number of farmers in that locality. Figure 1 shows the construc- 

 tion of the "Christopher." 



RECLAMATION OF ERODED LAND. 



In the reclamation of eroded land it is necessary to make use of 

 all the methods employed in prevention and to make every effort 

 to stop the advance of the gulhes into new lands, and even greater 



1 Smith, J. Russell, Plow and Poverty, Sat. Evening Post, 182, p. 14 (1909); Apples without Plowing, 

 Coimtry Gentleman 79, 778 (1914). 

 'Sej^mour, E. L. D., The Fruitful Land, Country Life in Amer., July, 1913. 



