The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-02-25

in January, dry soil could be found to a
depth of ten to eleven inches. While the
conditions during the fall OF 1886 were
very favorable for the growth of wheat
they were not so during the fall of 1897.
The soil moisture at the LIST of January
ranged from u to IS per cent. It is now
about double that amount; in fact the
first foot OF soil is now saturated. The
wheat crop is beginning TO look well. The
soil is from TO S degrees warmer this
season than last at the same depths and
for the same dates. During the winter of
1896 and 1897 the lowest annual tempera-
ture at depth of three feet was as de-
grees, and was reached on February 6
and Z. The lowest temperature for this
winter at the same depth was AS degrees
and was reached on the same dates.
BURNING TRASH.
1t can not be too frequently repeated
that the farmers of this territory and
the western states generally place too
ing of organic matter which would great
~ improve the soil if it is properly de-
cayed and plowed under. 1t is known be-
yond question that the one thing which
our soils lack is organic matter. 1t is
also known that the application of organic
matter in the form of straw, manure, etc.
greatly improves the soils texture and
ability TO withstand drought. Bearing
this in mind, it is productive of a reflective
mood to see fires consuming this material
which would add to our permanent resour-
ces if properly put to use. There is alb
solutely no excuse for burning straw
there is little reason for burning corn
stalks as they will rot if thrown into
waste places and make a good pile of
manure in a year or two. When we know
what ails so many of our soils and what
the remedy is and are in possession of the
remedy and are too masteful to apply 1t,
we are not deserving of good crops.
NEW CORN VARIETIES.
Director Morrow, of the Experiment
station at saltwater, is anxious 10 obtain
information of any varieties of corn
thought especially valuable in any part
of Oklahoma, so that comparative tests
NAV be made on the station grounds. II
sometimes happens that a variety OF corn
which is not known outside a limited re-
s-ion has great value It is especially de-
eirad 70 learn OF varieties which have been
cultivated in the territory for several
,,ears Thus far the best variety tried at
tba station is one which has no name, the
ed having been brought from southern
Kansas several years ago and the corn
grown each year by a few good FARMERS
near Saltwater.
PEACH TREE BORERS.
Everybody who owns peach
,ho,,i5 examine il about the body near
,ba Ground to see If borers are present
IF thew are. there will be a gummy exu-
dstion. This gum and the soil should De
rer,ovad and search made for the borer
7,,itb a knife. From one to a dozen may
be found in a single tree. The larFa OF
worm is a creamy white. from an men
to an inch and a half long The writer OF
this paragraph recently visited a peach
orchahrd supposed to be free from borers
but lIpon examination was found to be
badly infested.
TRIAL. OF NEW SEEDS.
The Experiment Station at Saltwater
cautions farmer and fruit growers against
irving on a large scale new varities Of
o,,+ bv. some seedsmen each year with ex-
trave CANT claims as TO wonderful produc-
tiveness and value. Many Of these prove
10 have little value. Even If found val
uable 10 great loss VIII come from wait
ing another year. Trials on small scale
NAV wisely be made bu, 81 is not safe %
put in a large quantity OF any untried
variety.
TO GET FREE SEEDS.
The Experiment Station !s not author
lied 10 make general distribution Of seeds.
plants. trees, etc. It has not a supply FOR
this purpose and il has been held that
such distribution. except under great iiIs-
irations. IS not proper work for The Sta
ton to engage IN. Parties desiring gov
eminent seeds" should address Hon. J.
Y. Callahan. Washington. D G.
CASTOR BEAN PODS
Growers q castor bean should utilize
the pods which accumulate about ths
barn yard. They possess a manurial
value fully equal &c that Of Average wool
ashes and are an excellent slow acting
fertilizer \ bulletin q the Cklahoma
Experiment Station reporting analysis q
the castor oil plant IL now IN press and
Kill Be sent free . All applying FOR Il
WINTER RAINFALL
The rainfall in cklahom has been m
usually heavy for winter during January
and February A. ;Hs Experl-nen STA
ton the total up n February - was 80
inches. . inches falling February F. Heav-
Ie- raIafaUs are reported from other
r,areE