The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1903-06-11
d. Lyons
PERFEcT
Tooth Powder
Used by people of refinement
for over a quarter Of O. century
PRgPAREp BY
cE n MeS~~70. IN g.
To Seed Right-Of-Way
With Alfalfa

Il notice that the management Of
the newy constructed D.. y. 4 G. rail-
way have announced their intention to
seed the righ.-ofway on either side
Of the track with alfalfa remarked
Secretary Thoburn Of the territorial
board OF agriculture. this morning
Continuing. Mr.. Thoburn said:
"This is not only a public spirited
move on the part Of the management
of that road but it is also worthy of
the serious consideration and emula-
tion Of The officials of some of the
other systems which are operating in
Oklahoma. The average railroad right
of-way is rot, ordinarily, a thing Of
beauty More frequently 1t is the
breeding ground from which come the
seeds of the sunhower. cocklebur.
sand-bur. bul-nettle and other trouble
some weeds to infest the adjoining
farms Indeed. | know of one piece
of railroad right-ofway where. for
nearly a quarter OF mile. the track
is flanked on either side by strong
growth Of Johnson grass. which is al.
lowed to seed each year much to the
menace Of adjoining farm property
II is true tLat the section crew some.
times uses a brush scythe to lay low
this noxious growth and the ground is
usually burned over once a year but
seldom or never Is this done in time
to prevent the dispersion Of weed
seeds. The idea Of really seeding down
the unused part Of the railroad right
of-way to a useful pant seems to be
IA new one. but It's novelty does not
detract in the least from its practical
bnity.
This course on the part of the
management of the D.. E. & G seems
TO be a well timed one no matter from
what viewpoint It is regarded In the
first place. it Is a good thing for the
right-of-way Alfalfa will, when once
seeded. entail less labor to keep the
right-of-way in order. Al will look bet
ter than the ordinary assortment Of
wayside weeds and be easier to re-
move when the growth Is matured. II
its seed bows. washes or is carried to
nelghborlng farms. no harm can re-
suit for alfalfa never becomes a
weed under any circumstances The
presence OF such a growth along the
railway VIII make bee culture profit
able where it has not been more than
possible hitherto. Last. and not least
in importance. 1t will place practical
object lesson before the eyes Of sever
al hundred farmers who have never
made any attempt TO grow alfalfa.
and such a practical demonstration
will not be without practical results.
"As mater of fact, engineers in
charge of the construction and main
.tenance of railway road beds have
seemingly never appreciated the value
of discrimination in the character OF
the vegetation that is permitted to
grow upon its sides and slopes, The
military engineer and the hydraulic
engineer both have frequent recourse
20 the sodding of slopes to prevent
soil erosion. l have seen PAGES within
the past few days. where the railway
road bed had been washed out by
floods where washouts would have
4. =
cred impossible had the embankments
been but covered with a growth Of
Bermuda grass. or even our native
curly mesquite grass. to bind the soil
in place with its tenacious roots and
prevent the surface friction which ma
turally wears away a sandy SOIL
whether In wind or water.
"If the d., f. & G. people put such