The Green Forest tribune., 1911-06-23
ENCOURAGING CROP CONDITION
Drought Disaster Calls for Reverse of
 Plans and Quick Action.

The Tribune tres hard not to be pes simisJic in its views upon anything. Enough of that so1J of business will reverse the wheels 9f prosperity and bring starvation out of plenty.
 The signs of the times at present, however, are d little bit alarming. This section ct the country is up against one of the hardest conditions that ever confronted us. This near to- crop failure is serious enough to demand serious attention. While there are several redeeming features over short crops in former years, there are also some strong points against us that have never coa feonted Us before.
 While desperate effort is being made by many tomatoe growers, who refuse to be discouraged by the situa- tion to the extent of abandoning their crops, it is possible that the failure will be so widespread that the canning factory will not turn a wheel this season.
 The fruit crop as whole is as nsarly failure as it has been for some years, indicating now that there will be little or no income from that source.
 Not only has the hay crop been nipped almost in the bud, but many hundreds of acres of grass is absolute ly dead, representing loss of thous- ands of dollars expended for seeds with all the labor to be done over.
 The corn crop is probably cut in half with big eff still hanging. John Stafford, a close observing farmer, es- timated that it was damaged fourth a week ago.
 Added to the conditions locally is the fact that large portion of the country is suffering from the extremely blight ing effects of the continued drought. This means high prices for what we have to buy.
 This is the condition. 1t must be met by conservation and level heads if severe losses do not follow. As help ful suggestion, we have given space to the following article issued by the Agri- cultural Department designed to help in the emergency that now exists:
 "A great many of us have made the acquaintance of Miss Fortune with our oat and hay crops this year on account of the extreme hot and dry weather. To offset this we must do something, or be without feed for our live stock this winter. What shall it be?
 "A very successful crop under such conditions is the much neglected cow pea and it's sister the soy bean. Both have some advantages over the other. The soy bean will stand the drouth better than the COW pea and will add a little more nitrogen to the soil than the cowpea. On the other hand the cowpea will make little better hay than the soy bean, and is little more nutritious. However this is not the question. What we want is feed anc that brings it down to question o1 availability. Plant the seed you car get with the least trouble whether il be soy beans or cowpeas.
 "If you have cut your oats or whear blow the stubble and SOW it to either cowpeas or soy beans. If the oats ol wheat is too short to cut, blow it under and SOW it to coWpeas or soy beans The land should be plowed six or eight inches deep and narrowed smooth Then the peas may be drilled in, ol they may be sowed broadcast and GOV cred with the harrow. If sowed il this dry weather the ground should no be allowed to stand long before tn, peas are sown, as it will dry out t. such an extent that the peas will no germinate. After the peas come ul they should be run over lightly witl the section harrow. This will loosel