The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1910-07-19


restoring and maintaining the orodup.
tiyeitr Of tho soil. From his stand.
point. this Is the most Important
phase Of the whole conservation prob
lem
Scme Of the American endgFants
are taking up the lands ln Manitoba
Alberta ana Saskatchewan, where
there IN almost a stampede TO cstah-
lish farms on che Virgin SOIL III the
belief that the fertility 0g the land
Is eihexhdustble" Similar claims
We're made few years ago about The
praitdes Of the West and Middle West
Experience has proven hlNprer, thar
no soil ~ lnexhaustibie unless cared
for under an approved system OF farm
management,
"This countrp has been prodigal
In the utilization Of all ms natural re-,
sources, especially the soil, and we
are now paying the penalty" said Mr.
Splllman q few days ago before eav-
Ing Washington for field trip In
many Of our older communities soil
fertility is greatly reduced. 'fhe DC.
rroclation OF tho soil due to primitive
methods Of farming means reduced
income for the farmer because Of re-
dueed capacity OF the land, and an in
creaee In the cost of fool because Of
low yields, Many ct our farmers in-
stead Of staying at home and adopt
ing methods OF renovating their worn
cut soils, find 1t easier TO sell the old
farm. and pack up aud move on.
we arc facing new situation.
"a longed does the Improvement OF
land III the West meet the loss due
to the abandonment OF Older lands
In the East, combined with the in
creased demand for the products OF
the ia in That the same process OF
wCll exhaustion which caused the de-
crease OF agricultural population and
sabanAonment OF farms In the East
Is now going on In the West and Mid
die West Is evidenced BY the decreas-
ed yields per acre Sr land which u
decade on so ago wac considered tho
rici,r-l In the cOlintry.
There Is q solution TO roe prob.
lem which conffonts Is, and am
ttHliutil AltN lhf ftultliNNu tWilNA
Is Industrious and compeien, onougn
to work II out ol the ground Aban-
doning or selling the farm to move
to Canada does not help matters In
this direction, Abuse of the soil must
stop. The period OF exploitlve farm
Ing Is past Single cropping and fall
ure to fegtillyo the land properly will
continue Ak the caalses Of the nom
success OF some tanners. put not an
many as In the years past
The per aore yield of land must
be Increased by improved farming
systems which Will include the rotli.
ton OF cr0ps, and the wise use Of ma.
tural and commercial fertilizers. In.
telligent farmers NOW recognize the
Importance OF the effect Of live stock
on the fertility OF the soil. Glover,
peas, alfalfa and other leguminots
crops must be planted to restore nit
rogen to the soil and humus. Legu-
minous e ops have wonderful ief-
feet on fertility Corn planted after
alfalfa in Kansas and Nebraska. cont
pared with corn grown after non Ie-
gumlous crops has shown an increase
Of seyenty-fiye per cent according TO
recent investigation of the depart
ment OF agriculture. The yield or
corn has been Increased fifty per cent
or more by sowing clover between
crops.
Countless cases might be cItod to
show The results which are secured
by really scientific farming, | think
now OF furm In the Middle West
that eight years ago was producing
only eight bushels OF wheat ami tween,
tyflge bushels OF corn to the acre.
The owner OF this farm was con
yerted by representative Of the de-
paftment to the use Of improved meth
OILS OF conserving and building up the
soil fe tiiity, and at the present
time, and depending wholly upon the
natural resources OF the farm. he Is
getting twenty-five bushels OF wheat
and fifty 10 sixty bushels OF corn TO
the acre. Another instance is the
case OF q farmer In New York state
stho lived In region whore potato
growing had been the source OF fanm
revenue for two or three geneIatIone
Poor methods had been used and the
soil had run down untIl the yields
were not over forty bushels OF pota-
toes to the acre, and these OF poor
quality. A representative OF the Of.
flee OF farm management indnced
this faImer TO get good seeG potatoca,
enough to plant four acres. and then
showed him how to TIL them. The
four acres produced $50 bushels per
acre Of good potatoes,
We make special point Of hunt-
Ing ~ farmers who have already ap-
plei scientific methods TO their farm
Ing, and then telling Others about their
methods. because In huing this me
know that our recommendation are
entirely practical We find also that
farmers are more ready 20 listen To
accounts OF the experience of another
farmer than they are to suggestions
,vnicii have not been tried.
THE situation Ii hopeful, The main
thing that is needed Is n sufficient
number OF teachers who not only nli-
derstand the problems concerning the
farmer but understand the proper
methods TO pursue IN building up the
coll There Is nationwide effort
at the present time both By the goy.
G nment aud by the states directed
toward the restoration OF soil fcrtll-
iiy. Progress Il being made and the
farmers In many parts OF the coun-
try are increasing their profits stead
ily through the application Of correct
forming methods 20 take the place Of
fI.a oil .nnIl.nn l.f ..ai..l1-.. IL. Il Il d.