El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1900-08-13

HSbCoICu AhC S0sbS NODDSN
BY Centuries OF Crop-bearlng
May Be Rehabilltated-Am
lean Seeds Show Best Results
Efforts To Increase Cereal Pro
neutrality-suspicious. OF Date
Palms For Arizona.
In the experiments which the Agri,
cultural department has been carry
ing on for d ear past on five plots OF
ground situated on the Potomac Flats
the department hopes to solve the
secret of rejuvenating the robbed soil
Of the SCUM. Through centuries OF
constant cultivation, of raising cotton
and tobacco, this soil has become go
poor that it no longer produces the
yield to the acre that it should, and to
make good pasture land has been
practically impossible. This cons tar t
planting and resping of crops and
the vast amount of cultivation which
has been done have robbed the soil of
humus, and in order to rejuvenate it,
to start the grasses and the leguminous
plants growing and once again give
life ano crop-> ielding viRor to the soil,
Secretary Wilson, of the Agricultural
Department., through his excellent
corps of scientists, has been carrying
on extensive experiments with grAsses
best suited to supply this crying need
CT the southern farmer and planter.
In preparing portion of the Poto-
mac Flats for the experime nts, year
was spent in clearing the soil of all
weeds and leyumtnous plants and gras
ses, 80 that when IL came time for try
ing the experiments this soil would be
az near the dead condition as that of
the South which had appealed to the
apartment for relief. This spring
the ground was In condition for the ex
periments and a varied assortment o:
grass es, those known to be legum nous
aud capable Ct producing humus aud
roots that would hold the soil co.
gether snd make it capable of etain-
ing moisture rere planted. The sFeds
used were of three kinds, two foreign
and one American. La the south the
farmers and planters have been rails
Ing certain kind OF Bermuda grass.
That of inferior grades seemed to
thrive. but even this quality did not
thrive in some sectiCns of The south
" bile 10 others i. became 60 aggressive
ID at it Overrsn all other crops and
y "a only kept down by continuous
REHABILITATES THE SOIL.
NC vi Lnc ~
Department are being made with the |
inest grades O. imported Bermuda |
'rass. Five plots of ground were Sc, |
side for the BERMUDA grass expert |
nents AID all were successful, while |
eed enough to sow ten acres. which |
vas given to well-known Southern Sc
ator, produced no crop whatever. This
ed to still further experiments with
he grass. 1t was then discovered that
Bermuda grass sown for the
purpose of producing fine pastures, with
view OF still later rejnvenating and
ling the soils with humus and legu-
1inous roots, must be Gown during
ret season and as early In the spring sd
BILE.
The other experiments with foreign
seds were with the European clover.
or years the American farmer has,
ccording to Secretary Wilson, been
I'd to believe that fOregD clover is
lperior to the Al erican. Each year
as been an alarming increase In the
npor tstion of clover seed, until today
i which shippers make considerable
'oney. In the test of the European
nd American clover seed planted side
y side, the scientists of the Agrtcul
lral department have proven to their
wn satisfaction the theory they have
ing maintained, that A nerican clover
led is better adapted for the elm ates
North America than the imported
led. The foreign clover has a smooth
EN- and petal, while that grown from
he American seed nature has pro-
ided with heavy coating OF fuzz,
I'D Ia consequently protected.
TO IMPROVE CEREAL CROPS. |,
Now that the bermuda grasses aud
lie clover seed have done what hsd |
cen expected of them, the results will
3 made Known to the farmers and
They will be told now to
,juvenste the soil, which he's .uffered I
ON too much tiliing. 1t will take !
ears to give new life 20 the ground r
at has been robbed for SO long, but '
? planting the grasses and usidg the
aids In which they are erowo for c
,ssure for several years, the ground C
i'll re gain that brown substance which
'od ucss crops and IS called humus.
In speaking of the cereal prod ucing
:ates, Secretary Wilson said that each C
.ar the crops harvest are producing /
IS bushels to the acre. This Secretary \
'tlson attributed TO the absence of r
lmus matter and to constant cultiva-
,u. He also stated that grains raised }
these grounds are coming less and T
50 nutritious. In order in a measure F
check this state of affairs, the
partment has sent scientists ioto
lssia and other cerealraising coun
les OF Europe for th- purpos of find Z
e the most nutritious cereal grain r
eds possible. They will be brought r
this country, ADD planted On the ex-
farms of the department. \
ing the hanks of the Potomac. f
DATE PALMS FOR ARIZONA n
\ important work just accomplished 4
70 reported on the return of WalterT. !