38 CIECULAB 17 8, U. S. DEPARTMENT OE AGRICULTURE 



Of the species tried out, several native grasses, when seeded broad- 

 cast over the eroded areas, gave the best results. Following the seed- 

 ing, new plants became established in the fine soil that had accumu- 

 lated in the gullies as a result of wind and gravity. Here also more 

 favorable moisture conditions obtained than on the more exposed 

 surfaces between the gullies. After a few plants had become firmly 

 rooted the stand graduall;^ thickened, until in a few years the gullies 

 were clogged with vegetation. Moreover, the plants spread out grad- 

 ually over the intervening areas. The velocity of the run-off in the 

 gullies was greatly diminished because of the established vegetation, 

 and the sediment carried in the water was deposited back of the 

 tufts of grass. No further cutting occurred in the gullies, save when 

 the run-off from an occasional, extremely torrential rain caused some 

 washing of the soil on gully sides where vegetation had not yet 

 gained a foothold. Where the vegetation had spread between the 

 gullies, the run-off was still further checked, and after 30 to 50 per 

 cent of this surface had been occupied by plants, little or no erosion 

 took place, and gradually the gullies began to disappear. The seed- 

 lings had only the interval between times of heavy run-off in which 

 to become established, and when run-off occurred before they were 

 well rooted the plants were washed out. However, years without 

 extreme run-off occurred frequently enough for most plantings to 

 succeed with the first attempt, and in no instance were more than 

 two replantings necessary. 



Obviously, under any method, some productive soil must be avail- 

 able to sustain the seedlings. Where the soil has, been partially 

 depleted the plants least exacting as to soil requirements, handled 

 with the special methods necessary, will give the best results. In 

 cases of extreme erosion and complete removal of the productive 

 surface soil or on " bad lands " where soil has had no opportunity 

 to form, it may be necessary to improve the soil before planting 

 to any species thus far experimented with will be successful. Where 

 the native vegetation has been destroyed but the soil has not been 

 depleted materially and not many gullies have been formed, any 

 species suited to the local climate and soil may be planted. Higher 

 costs are usually justified for protecting a watershed against erosion 

 than when the planting is for forage production alone. 



SEEDING ERODED LANDS 

 SELECTING THE PLACES TO SEED 



The best time to check erosion is in its incipiency. If this has 

 not been done and the cutting process has progressed until the gullies 

 are more than 6 inches wide at the top and 3 to 5 inches deep, 

 it will be best to begin work on the higher portions of the eroding 

 area where the gullies are smaller, or possibly between the gullies 

 if soil and moisture conditions there are favorable to the establish- 

 ment of seedlings. Even the quick-starting and more rapid grow- 

 ing species seldom become established at the outset in the larger 

 gullies, where the run-oft' is usually very heavy following torrential 

 rains or rapid melting of snow. Once the smaller feeder gullies 

 and the spaces between them on the upper portion of a slope have 

 been revegetated, the run-off into the larger gullies below will be 



