The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1910-07-24

the crimson clover yielded over lwoI
tons OF hay per acre and was cut IN
time to plow the land for the com
crop in the spring. Some farmers
alternate and cut half the plot for hay
and the other half they turn under to-
enrich the soil alternating each year.
Thus the amount of food secured for
stock was near.y equal to the corn
crop and made during the peri
cd when most farmers allowed heir
land 10 run to weeds.
If we are ever to become great and
prospersous farmers and have thrjftI
everywhere through the country, we
must adopt some system of rotation.
At least we must have a plan about
our farm SO that We do not continued
to raise the same crop on a field each
year. Soil dislikes to be put at the
same task every year just as much as
a boy gets weary doing one job the
year round And this is the second
part of our proposition. The first, as
stated, Is to plant something in the
corn, and for that matter in the cot
ton, too where there is no infestation
of boil weeyil OF course where the
boil weeyil is present it is necessary
to plow the land early in the fall but
where there is no boil weeyil, planting
rye and yetch in the cotton for .he
winter cover crop is an excellent plan.
1t does not hurt the cotton and it does
great deal OF good to the land. lnI
Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas, It 10
generally too dry at the time the cul-
tivation of cotton is discontinued for
the safe planting of crimson clover or
vetch, and under boil weeyil conditions
their growth would be so small before
it was necessary to fall plow that 1t
would not be economic to use them
even if the planting was successful,
but rye can be put in deep enough toI
reach moisture and make stand.
Five or six rows rather close together
can be planted in the middles at the
last cultivation. 1t better be drilled
and It will make fair growth before
winter sets in. The humus thus accu-
mulated is a clear gain. But in the
corn We can always follow the plan
OF planting rye and yetch. And iercl
comes the necessity for our second
suggestion, that We should do more
than just rotate for cotton and corn.
For farms that fertility could be main
tanned by planting every third year in
cotton, then run two years to corn,
planting between the rows each year
crimson clover, or rye and vetch. This |
would restore the fertility to such an !
extent that We would probably get as
much cotton out of the one crop plant
ed once in three years as We now Se-
out OF the crop in two years. Some
farmers may be able 10 take Longer
rotation. If so, they are wise farmers
who do this. \ iuur-ycar rotation Is
an excellent plan where cotton Is
planted only once during the period,
com twice and cowpeas and oats once.
other rotations vii suggest ther-
selves -cording to conditions. Ulti.
ma ely ia couon produ .tion the sue.
cessful planter must establish a rota-
ton which includes some pasture 0!
hedyy-shading leguminous crop that
will Kill ont the weeds one of the
most damaging things in cotton pro-
duction today is the presence OF weeds
and grass. They 50 foul the land,
yyerawe and subjugate the young cot
.on plants, tina, | believe about four
lines as much damage Is caused by
.oul lands as by the boil weeyil. How
ever, We can never expect to reduce
his condition every much or eliminate
N NtNto anu 81 lein9 hAAtlA th4 ~ = A " -
md fence corners are kept tree from
weeds which distribute seed on every
land Sooner or later We shall bel
to make war on weeds.
But do not fail TO nave a plan. Iii
5 just about as wise 10 commence
building a house without a plan as TO
un farm without a. plan, and the
Ian must include Improvement in fer
ility as well as in an annual croppins.
think one OF the great failures in
american farming is lack of system
nd an orderly way OF doing things.
every man on his farm should think
t least a mon n ahead and get ready, ,
nd it would be better if he could
hink year ahead, but woe TO the
nan that simply does what every day I
rings to his hand. He is always n
rouble and short-handed, and some ,
low things happen to him and the
hings that happen are on the wrOlgI ,