856 LAWS OF MARYLAND. [CH. 437

adoption, are the carrying on of engineering operations such
as the construction of terraces, terrace outlets, check-dams,
dikes, ponds, ditches, and the like; the utilization of strip
cropping, lister furrowing, contour cultivating, and contour
furrowing; land irrigation; seeding and planting of waste,
sloping, abandoned, or eroded lands to water-conserving and
erosion-preventing plants, trees, and grasses; forestation and
reforestation; rotation of crops; soil stabilization with trees,
grasses, legumes, and other thick-growing, soil-holding crops;
retardation of run-off by increasing absorption of rainfall; and
retirement from cultivation of steep, highly erosive areas and
areas now badly gullied or otherwise eroded.

D. DECLARATION OF POLICY. It is hereby declared to be the
policy of the legislature to provide for the conservation of the
soil and soil resources of this State, and for the control and
prevention of soil erosion, and thereby to preserve natural re-
sources, control floods, prevent impairment of dams and res-
ervoirs, assist in maintaining the navigability of rivers and
harbors, preserve wildlife, protect the tax base, protect public
lands, and protect and promote the health, safety, and general
we) tare of the people of this State.

17. DEFINITIONS. Wherever used or referred to in this Act,
unless a different meaning clearly appears from the context;

(1) "District" or "soil conservation district" means a gov-
ernmental sub division of this State, and a public body cor-
porate and politic, organized in accordance with the provisions
of this Act, for the purposes, with the powers, and subject to
the restrictions hereinafter set forth.

(2) "Supervisor" means one of the members of the govern-
ing body of a district, elected or appointed in accordance with
the provisions of this Act.

(3) "Committee" or "State soil conservation committee"
means the agency created in Section 18 of this Act.

(4) "Land occupier" or "occupier of land" includes any
person, firm, or corporation who shall hold title to, or shall
be in possession of, any lands lying within a district organized
under the provisions of this Act, whether as owner, lessee,
renter, tenant or otherwise.

(5) "Due notice" means notice published at least twice,
with an interval of at least 7 days between the two publication
dates, in a newspaper or other publication of general circula-
tion within the appropriate area, or if no such publication of
general circulation be available, by posting at a reasonable
number of conspicuous places within the appropriate area,
such posting to include, where possible, posting at public
places where it may be customary to post notices concerning