Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1899-08-04
FARM AND GARDEN.
MATTERS OF INTEREST -
ACRICULTURISTS
Some Up-to-Date Hints About Gull
tiyation of the Soil and Yields
Thereot-Hcrticulture viticuIture and
Florica allure



The director of the Oklahoma Ex-
pertinent Station says:
The experiment station receives
more inquiries from Oklahoma fam
ers concerning grasses or cloyers thah
on any other one subject. Aside from
our native grasses there is no true
grass well adapted for pasture or hay
or both which with our present knowl-
edge and experience we can recon-
mend with confidence for cultivation
over the territory generally, and the
same is true of the clovers proper Ex-
periments in Kansas and Texas have
great value in helping us TO form con-
illusions. Over much of these great
states no one of tho cultivated grasses
proper has been fcnnd to thrive. Al
The experiment station at Saltwater
fair success has been obtained on some
trials with timothy and with blue
grass, but other trials have proved
failures. Orchard grass has done well
in growth, but full stand has not
yet been secured in any trial. Poor
success has resulted from repeated
trials of Bromus inermus and English
Fescue, grasses which have been rec
commended for this region. Bermuda
grass grows readily and spreads rapid
ly in many parts of Oklahoma. ana,
with some marked Objectionable quar-
tiles, it is coming into favor both as
lawn and pasture grass. Johnson grass
makes a vigorous growth. 1t is
coarse grass, and the difficulty of Grad
icating it is such that many farmers
are strongly opposed TO its use
AS yet the safest advice that can be
given is to leave much of the rough
or stony land or any otherwise unde-
sirable for cultivation in the native
grasses. The station has also had sue
cess with red, alsike and white clover
in some cases. The last does best, but
its smaller size and light yield units
it for sowing alone. Alfalfa is by far
the most successful and valuable hay
and pasture plant introduced into the
territory. With good preparation OF
the soil it thrives well over nearly all
the eastern half of the territory at
least. 1t is not adapted to lands sub
ject to overflow or those with impervi-
Gus subsoil or what are called alkali
lands; neither does it do well on very
sandy land. For hogs it is almost
perfect pasture. There is some danger
in pasturing cattle or sheep on it, but
it makes excellent hay 1t usually
gives large yield and its value is
much increased by the fact that when
once established it may be relied upon
for series of years.
AS a partial substitute for the ordi-
nary grass, Kafr corn and sorghum
are increasingly grown, chiefly for
hay or fodder, but with the increasing
use Of these crops for pasturage. Many
northern farmers do not take kindly
to the cultivation of COW peas. This
crop has value as a substitute for
clovers, and its rapid growth and
large yield of fairly palatable and nu-
tritive food, as well as its great value
as a manuring crop, entities it to in
creased attention. Soy or Sofa bean
has many of the same characteristics,
but in trials at the station has not
given nearly so large yield. This
is better adapted for northern than
the southern parts of the territory.
The experiment station is experiment
ing with a large number Of varieties
of grasses and has not abandoned hope
that some may be found which can be
with some confidence
for general cultivation in the terri
tOry