East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1910-09-09
CONSERVATION OF SOIL FERTILITY
Agriculture the Second National Con-
ST. Paul MINI.

, year from the high lying light
states; grass and alfalfa
from Turkestan, alfalfas, clovers and
vetches from Siberia, oats from north
ern Sweden, millets from the orient,
sorghum from Africa. are samples OF
what are being found by our 'explor-
ers that thrive on our highlands OF
the west.
At thirteen stations in seven states
we have parties Of scientists studying
methods OF plant management on oul
dry lands. II our growth in popula.
tion is to continue we must look Il
the soil and conserve moisture which
is the transportation system Of tn,
plant. Without adding water beyond
teal to greatly increase crop field
by better management and adding
fertilizing material that we may per
NIT to go to foreign countries. w
furnish nitrogenous mill feeds t
thrifty foreigners who know their val
ue to feed their cattle to make meat
and dairy products and keep up tn
fertility of their soils. These shoul
be fed on the farms that grow tn
grain from which they are made. Ne'
lands are not to be had for the askin
in the thirty inch rainfall districts O
the country. If We are to prosper a
a people We must give close attentio
to our soils and conserve their fer
tility by all the means in our power
Our lighter soils are affected b
droughts that extend over period
during the growing season so lon
that maximum crops are not secur
ed We will in time find it necessar
to follow the example set by Europea
countries of dense population, c
building reservoirs to impound over
flow water to be used during time
of drought. These reservoirs are bui
from the sources of their river o
down toward their mouths. We ca
do this with geat profit in some OF ou
states now.
The office of water in CROWN
plants is comprehended when W
realize that from three hundred I
five hundred pounds of water are rc
quired by the plant to enable il
make one pound OF dry matter an
that a shock of corn standing in III
field for weeks after it is cut hs
from twenty-five to forty per cent {
moisture.
Increasing the Crops.
Something is being done to increa:
the volume of our crops in all SCI
tons of our country The cattle fev'
tick of the south has prevented II
profitable production OF beef in tn;
section of our country. Congress ht
provided for the determination of II
pest, which is being done; 140,0C
square miles is now free from it. TIL
will bring into active productio
within a few years all of the soutner
states, pastures will be prepared, II
prime element in q system of rotatio
Of crops, cotton seed meal will be fe
where it is produced and souther
fields will become more product,
helping to feed our growing populs
ton, while more cotton will be grow
on fewer acres.
The advent of the cotton boil WEI
will called for prompt federal actio
to help southern farmers to de,
with this invasion from Central Am
make research, and conduct demor
stration of we'll known methods, o
many thousand farms. One Of tn
most interesting was the growing {
an acre of corn by each Of 1880
boys under 16 years OF age. The re
suit was very gratifying, over Is
bushels were grown on an acre b
some of the boys. The southern state
grew the largest corn crop in its his
tory. Upon this foundation ster
were promptly taken to breed hog
extensively so that the people Nigh
produce their meats. &.
This work is done by direction {
good southern farmers selected b
agents Of the department of agri
culture. There are many exceller
farmers in the southern states VIII
only need organizing to bring tha
section to the front as a producin
unit of all farm crops. This may
said Of all localities and Of all Of ou
states, each has a large minority {
good farmers, and in the developmer
of any state along agricultural line
something imperatively necessary, tn
practical farmers Of the state are tn
right men to organize for its pre-
gress.
The grazing lands of the public dc
main are being steadily reduced
unproductiveness by over stocking
which results in reduced productio
Of meats and animal products. Will
public lands are held for the home
steader it is difficult to suggest rem
edy that would not interfere with tn
policy of ultimate settlement by tn
homeseeker. The tendency Of con
eress to give larger areas to the set
tier seems to be in the right direc
tion.
Conservation of Farm Boys.
The most imDOrtant farm cOnseT