Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1912-02-09

state. Today we know better and tba
reason why is an easy problem. Bet
ter cultivation of the soil, getting tho
proper mulch, seeding with a dru,
and shallow, are all simple factors In
the problem, if properly applied, and
the results on the college farm have
been three tons of beautiful clover
hay per acre. There is no wisdom
however, in any farmer trying to
grow corn or clover unless he so
works his soil and prepares his seed
bed that there will be moisture suf.
ffcient to start the seed at the pronar
time.
What wonderfully productive
state this is when the land is prom.
eriy handled, looking at it from all
standpoints, and while the wheat
grower has to contend with smut and
squirrels; the fruit man with pests
which If not looked after will affect
the sale of his products, after all
there seems to be enough and more
than enough left to compare favor
ably with the productions of manv
other states in the American Union
And we are still in our infancy.
There is one more polnr ON this
subject that might be profitably con-
sldered, at least for the benefit of
the farmer who owns a moderate
sized farm. In growing corn crop
he is not required to summer fallow.
In fact the results from a corn crop
are very much better, provided he
handles it properly. The wild oats
and foul weeds will not be allowed
to seed. Largely by this method the
wild oats have been shorn of their
glory on the college farm and | can
assure you that it is com fort to see
them grow less each year. Then he
has instead of a naked summer fallow
crop that can be used in many ways
profitably with the field left all
ready for the disk harrow.
On 40-acre field on the college
farm which in 1907 was summer fall
lowed and seeded to hybrid wheat
in 1909 we seeded to oats and in 1910
planted to corn. After the corn was
removed the field was disk narrowed
and again planted to hybrid wheat,
which at last threshing time gave a
yield of something over A bushels
per acre and will again be planted to
corn about the 10th of next May
kept in condition, you see, to give
a crop every year by having a corn
crop in the rotation
The key note of my remarks is
simply this; more intensive farm
ing with all of the land possible doing
something instead of laying idle, and
that will mean livestock to take care
of the corn, clover and alfalfa, along
with the straw, making fertilizer
unexcelled to be applied back to the
land in order that it's fertility be not
impaired
The time has come in the farming
history of this country to carefully
watch the heritage of a splendid soil.
The old summer fallow system may
continue still for some time in spite
of all that has been said and done
by the experts of this college. Slowly,
1t may be, but surely the system will
change and while it may not affect
tho m who hot h,,& h.
thousands, they are not in a large
measure proof against disaster, but
for the average man there must come
into his life, at the price of land to-
day, system of diversification.
Many of the wheat growers of this
Palouse country have had wonderful
era of success and it is assuredly
fact that successful men make coun-
try. All honor should be given to
such men. Many of them are educat-
ing their sons and daughters at this
college from the profits of a wheat
ranch, giving to these young people
something that the majority of them
never enjoyed. But this fact is be-
yond dispute, that unless more
intensive farming Is done in the fu-
ture than has been done in the past,
generally speaking, our large yields
will year by year decrease, until bye
and bye this wonderful soil will re-
fuse to relax to mans prowess and
skill. So bring this subject to your
notice, whether it is wholesome or
not Personally, l believe it, more
especially when we consider the pop
ularity of this country, knowing as
we do that many from nearly all lands
and chimes are looking this way-men
who are not rich in one sense of the