The weekly herald. [volume] (Amarillo, Tex.) 1906-19??, 1908-05-07
THOROUGH
FARMING
Experiments on an Extensive
Scale Being Made for
Farmers Good
CFrom fridays Daily


government experimental station,
just west Of the city, would find a
visit there very instructive and in
teresting. To farmers ana prospoc-
tive farmers OF the Panhandle coun-
try, the experiments should be Of
especial interest,
Practically is the keynote OF all
the experiments conducted-cyery
crop Is sown and cultivated under the
same conditions that are to be met
by the Panhandle farmer there be-
ing neither fertilization nor hrisa-
ton Of tho soil
The experimental farm consists Of
100 acres, but only about 60 acres
are being farmed at the present time.
One-tenth OF an acre Is used for the
largest experimental fields,
While at this early date, no pre-
diction may safely be made as TO
what the various yields will be and
no comparisons of adagtability Of the
different varieties OF grain may be
made, yet the growing crops Of all
varieties are certainly a demonstra-
ton OF the fact that the Panhandle
Is a farming country and that but
the care given the higher priced
farming land in the older agricul-
tura states is all that Is needed to
develop the resources OF Panhandle
farm lands.
Several fields of winter wheat,
planted last October have attained
an average height of twenty inches;
two or three fields OF rye, planted
at the same time, are now full head
cd and measure three feet high,
while winter oats show the same en-
couraging growth.
Emmer, closely related to spells
and sometimes known by that name,
seems to thrive wonderfully, This
product, both as straw and grain, is
used for feeding and Is said to be
admirable for the purpose. Two or
three fields OF medium and soft Med
iterranean wheat give promise OF
abundant yields a number OF fields
OF Durum spring wheat that were
planted under different conditions
are a study to interest any farmer
Tennessee winter barley gives every
evidence OF success and field Of
Rieti wheat shows a strong healthy
growth.
One Of the most interesting expe-
rimental fields is that OF twelve plats
of Turkey Red wheat These plats
were all planted at different times,
varying from late September to late
November and the same grain used
in each. From the indications shown
at this early period, but which can
not be accepted as final the plant,
ings made from the middle to the
latter part OF october give promise
OF the most successful yields
A field OF hull-less oats looks thrift
ty but some fields OF winter oats,
planted under varying conditions,
have been almost total failure.
Today a great deal OF corn will be
planted although several fields have
already been planted. Preparations
are being made for planting twenty
ono varieties OF sugar boets in fields
OF one-twcntieth OF an acre each.
The farming system at this sta
tlon is thorough cultivation deep
blowing and frequent narrowing
Whenever a crust forms on the sur
face after a rain and the grain Is
not too far advanced, a light special
harrow is used to tear up the crust
and thus prevent cracking OF soil
and consequent evaporation Of mols-
ture
Special experiments arc also being
made for extremely dry farming The
plats of grain sowed have slight
elevation and the rain falling IS car
ried off by means of shallow bitches
around them. The results OF these
thus far are only prob
lematical.
Sugar beet seed grown in this
country thus far has not proved
success, the seed failing to repro
duce the right kind of beet At the
experiment station several
varieties of mother sugar beets arc
now being grown for seed, What
success will result will require a few
years to ascertain.
The farmers OF this section are
urged to visit the station at any
time and see for themselves Just
what is being accomplished Mr.
Ross, the genial manager in charge,
will be glad to show visitors over