Heppner gazette. [volume] (Heppner, Morrow County, Or.) 1892-1912, 1909-01-07
BEST FORAGE PLANT.
Washington State Experiment Station
+ Makes Extensive Investigation.

III Order 10 discover d forage pldil
which will grow and yield profitable
crops in the so-called "dry sectionl
of the state, the staff Of the State
College Experiment Station has car
ried on extensive investigations at
| both the local and sub stations during
the past year Scores of forage planta
have been planted and tested, and at
the present stage of this experimental
| ton, it is known that milo maize
| Jerusalem corn, artichokcs, ,Kaffir
corn, ana amber cane corn are among
the best adapted plants for dry
| farming"
The work of the sub station q, Con.
nell has been carried along four lines:
First, there has been an effort to de-
termne the best method of handling
summer fallow, including a study OF
the effect of certain tools; second,
there has been a study Of the adapta-
bility of various well-known dry lano
forage plants to central Washington
conditions; third. a study Of the effect
Of GROWING cultivated crop, in place
Of the summer fallow, upon the wheat
crop; fourth, there has been a study OF
the adaptabilty and methods of seed
ing of wel-known dry land grasses,
and legutt1ts.
Although the past season has been
an exceptionally dry one, and the re-
suits could not be expected to show
forage crops in as favorable light as
the average season would, yet several
plants showed up very promising
Among these were Jerusalem corn,
milo maize, Kaffir corn, artichokes
and amber cane corn. Another prom
Using one was small. early maturing
variety of dent corn.
Other plants tried were cow peas,
soy beans, chick pea. common mlllet,
| Japanese millet, Hungarian mlllet.
golden millet, common field peas
kale, rape, popcorn and flint corn.
On September 10 the Milo maize
showed itself to be the best drOuth
resister. This plant grows very SINH
| lar to corn, except that il scatters a
great deal more, and is more leafy.
! Jerusalem corn and Kaffr corn are
both very similar in appearance to
common corn, being about midway
etween common corn and Milo maize
n business. Their seed however, is
corne in large and fairly compact
head, or bunch on the end of the stalk.
They yield quite heavily in most
places. and judging from this years
experience, would mature a fair guam
tity OF seed at Connell, which makes
very useful feed for poultry and
swine
The difference in the showing OF
Jerusalem and Kaffir corn and Milo
maize was quite noticeable. While
= .l,
did not dry up, the inner plants of the
plots were about one-third smaller in
size than the plants on the outer edge.
This showed that their growth had
,een materially checked by the short
age of moisture. The trial leaves IL
ndcr the impression that Jerusalem
nd kaffr corn are but poorly adapt
| to central Washington conditions.
| Dent corn made almost perfect
stand, but the growth was scanty. and
only small quantity of nubbins ma
| tured.
The present seasons growth could
not be considered a proved crop, but
corn of the same strain grown on land
adjoining the experiment station last
wear was fair crop. and may be taken
as a fairly good demonstration Of
what could be done with dent corn
on any good, dry land farm The
seed, however would have to be
adapted to the locality.
The flint corn and the popcorn
made a good stand. and matured well,
out their growth was so small that
hey could not be given consideration
n comparison with dent corn. The
1rtichokes made an excellent stand,
nd showed remarkable ability to con
rinue their growth throughout the en-
! ire drv season.
Whether it would pay to utilize
rain land for the growth OF these
cots is an open question. The other
olants that were used made so light 4
growth this season that further trial
will be necessary before they can be
considered as even promising.
OF the non-cultivated forage plants.
the most promising was the alfalfa
This made fairly good stand. and
:ontinued to grow slowly throughout
lhe entire season. On September 10
+: stood about eighteen inches or two
feet high As the first season is needed
to establish alfalfa. this is considered
all excellent showing. The alfalfa was
seeded with a grain drill. which al
lowed the seed to be conducted down
into the shoes of the drill. so that il
was deposited in moist soil. 1t is
questionable whether a good stand
could be secured by broadcast seed
ing and narrowing in.
Hairy vetCh made a poor stand, but
a promising growth. The tenacitv
with which they cling to the soil when
once established makes il rather cues.
tionabc whether it would pay to seed
good grain land to vetch. unlcs~
permanent pasture is desired.
OF the grasses, the most promising
was the slender wheat grass; smooth
bronze grass. Neither of these grasses.
however. showed up as well as the
alfalfa. Another seasons growth is
needed to determine anything definite
regarding their production. Other
grasses tried were meadow feScue. or
Chard grass, tall oat grass. None of
these grasses made show worthy of
mention. Since the past season has
been exceptionally dry. they will be
given another trial.
The only suggestions the station
has to make to farmers regarding
these forage crops are that alfalfa.
bronze grass. acclimated dent corn.