Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1913-03-14
IULSAHS HEAR
WONDERFUL TALK


Continued from page H.
the Two staple crops, corn and cotton,
as in inaugurating this work il was
easier to start the farmer to doing
the things he was already doing in a
better way than to inaugurate d new
order Of things
The Details.
This year We offer $4,000 again,
but make some special conditions in
the line Of conservation and fertiliza-
tiun Of the soil our main prizes are
offered for the best results from ten
acres Of land. divided into four plots
Of two and One-half acres each, plot
number one to be planted in cowpeas,
plot number two in kafir corn or milo
maize. plot numb three IN cotton
plot number four in corn.
Body to the soil
we choose the coWpea for this
crop for several reasons. 1t will grow
on almost any soil and the great ma
pority Of people in this state have
raised It, and know more about it
than any other OF the leguminous
crops. In the first place We want to
raise and turn under Il very heavy
crop as a green fertilizer to increase
the humus and TO give body to the
soil, making II more porous go that
II viii hold moisture longer and will
be richer and produce more. A heavy
~ garcyIr1y,, ffrrvaI tffahats the
same way would produce the results
mentioned, but the cowpea and other
leguminous crops perform another
valuable service which crops that are
not leguminous cannot perform.
Nitrogen Essential.
The air as you know, is four
hfths nitrogen. Nitrogen is the most
expensive fertilizer that you buy and
it is positively essential to plant life.
Now, these little entities suck air into
the earth and aerate the soil. II is
just az necessary for a plant to have
air as it is for an animal to breathe
it, They therefore do the splendid
service Of bringing the air into the
soil, and in bringing it in they digest
the nitrogen that is in the air and
convert it into mineral nitrates that
are soluble in water and Immediately
available for plant food II is esti-
mated that under favorable condi-
tions where an acre Of land is well in
oculatcd the bacteria will bring $50
worth Of nitrogen to the acre within
the year; that is, il would cost $50
and more to buy and put upon the
land the nitrogen that these little en-
titles have drawn from the atmos-
phere into the soil. Therefore we
have induced the people to use the
pea In preference 70 an ordinary
green crop so as TO enrich the land
with nitrogen as well as with humus.
An object Lesson in Humus.
we make 1t obligatory upon the
contestants to plow under these two
and one-half acres Of peas and vines |
on plot number one. SO that when
corn which is on plot number four
this year in regular rotation is plant !
ed on the plot number one next year
where the cowpeas have been.
Cotton the Great Cash Crop.
"Plot number three is TO be planted !
In cotton-the great cash crop Of the |
state. 1t Is a crop which will always |
be raised to ssme extent; but crops
that will feed and care for the family |
should be provided for first and cot |
ton afterwards. We should raise |
what cotton wep roduce on one-half !
he land we now cultivate. One Of |
he first movements in this direction
should be to secure the very best seed |
possible. AS n rule when the cotton |
crop opens farmers employ all the |
help they can get, pick the cotton,
haul It to the gin. sell the lint and
seed and owards the last Of the sea-
ION haul lot of promscuously mix
ID seed-good. bad, late and early.
This is very wasteful method and
should be changed a. once. 1t is
,est to go through the field with one
,r more intelligent hands. accordins
10 the amount Of cotton you are
and select the earliest open
ng large bolls that grow on strong
hort jonted. well fruited plants and
lin this seed TO itself and keep the
ccds FOR next years planting.
Would All Get Rich.
"1f every farmer In the state would
low determine and carry into effect
he determination TO cultivate one
lalf the land that he now cultivatcs
nd to put all the work on the hail
hat he now puts on the whole. tc
liant no seed but the best. 90 con
inue his cultivation until his crops
re really mature and TO prepare ev-
ry crop carefully for market. just
S though he were taking 1t to the