The Muskogee cimeter. [volume] (Muskogee, Indian Territory, Okla.) 1901-19??, 1904-12-22
WHEAT PASTURE EXPERIMENTS

the winter months was meager Ol
all plats, thus the amount of pastur
furnished was somewhat limited a
compared with the amount obtained
under normal conditions.
The fields and plats during the en-
tire season were perfectly firm, thus
the soil was not tramped and put II
poor physical condition as it wa,
the previous season When the grount
Is very wet and the cattle are allowed
to pasture upon the wheat, the tex
ture of the soil is not only impaired
but a large number of the whea
plants are destroyed. 1t will requir,
more work the next season to pre-
pare the same land for wheat thar
would be required II the necessary
precautions had been taken and tht
stock not been allowed to run wher
the soil was very wet Such condi
tions are not met every year but the
precautiOn noted above should be oh
served during exceptionally mois,
periods. In 1903 half acre plat tha,
was given moderate treatment during
wet periods gave yield of 90 bush
els per acre more than a plat of the
same area upon which the cattle were
permitted to run while the soil was
very soft. The latter plat was also
very rough for the binder at the har
vest season.
Nine One-half acre plats were used
In the work during the season of 1908
and 1904. These plats were located
in wheat field about one mile west
Of Saltwater, and they were survey.
ed and fenced the first week in De.
cember with the exception of the
three plats included under general
field treatment. The cattle had been
on the wheat only a short time when
the plats were fenced. The soil in
this field would be classed as me
dium upland clay loan (Which is con.
sidered good wheat soiD. The diff
erent plats were divided In the fol-
lowing manner:
Plats l and 2. The wheat was not
pastured after December 5, and prior
to this date the cattle had been pas
turing upon the plats only few days
so that these may be considered as
control plats-those receiving no
treatment.
Plats and s. The stock was al.
lowed free access to these up to Feb.
ruary goth at which time the gates
were closed.
Plats Z, 8 and 9. The wheat on
these plats was given general field
treatment. that Is the lots were not
fenced but the cattle were permitted
to run over these plats just as they
passed over the regular field.
Plats 4 and G. These plats were
given the same treatment as z, 8 and
and in addition they were pastured
severely April Is and 16, the cattle
being confined to the lots until the
wheat was pastured quite close.
The wheat at this date was needing
rain very much. The plants on the un.
pastured plats were much in advance
OF the wheat on the plats which were
pastured to February 29th. while the
plants on the latter plats made a
much better showing than the plants
on the regular field. Dry weather
prevailed up to May 4th, at which
time the wheat was commencing to
head. The outlook was certainly not
very promising but subsequent rains
aided the wheat very materially in
filling up. The crop was harvested
June 16 and II. The grain on the
late pastured plats was still slightly
green.
Grain bu. Test
Treatment per acre
Unpastured 1885 81. 8
Pastured to Feb 20. 9.79 "a. s
paSturad IN Mar o. q nc % n