The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1914-02-06
SOIL SURVEY RESULTS
Interesting Statistics Announced
by Government.
Dwarf kafir Corn Has Proved Profit
able Farm Crop-Peruvian Alfalfa
Valuable in Warm Climates
Diseases of Potatoes.
prepared by the United States De-
partment of Agriculture.)

prepared by the United States De-
partment of Agricultural
During the year ending June 30,
1918, an area amounting to 52,609,60O
acres was covered by soil surveys by
the department of agriculture. or
this amount 21,210,SS0 acres were sur
veyed and mapped in detail. Parts
of thirty-one states were included in
this work and all sections of the coun-
try were represented. The remainder
of the area surveyed was covered
which took in a reconnaissance sur
vey. The total area of which soil
surveys have been made up to June
80, last, is 703,235 square miles.
Dwarf kafir Corn Has Proved Prof
table Farm Crop.
The department of agriculture an
nounced that the dwarf kafir corn has
been extensively distributed through
federal states and commercial agen-
cies and has proved to be very de-
sirable and profitable farm crop.
Feterita has awakened much interest
as a desirable type of white durra.
Both faterita and dwarf kafir are
adapted to harvesting with the ordi-
nary grain header, which add greatly
to the value as crops for extensive
farming.
The department has taken a promi-
nent part in the campaign now being
waged for the planting of pure and
viable broom corn seed. Experiments
with dwarf broom corn tend to prove
that this crop is usually sown too
thickly for best results.
| High Value of Sudan Grass.
Sudan grass has continued to dem
onstrate it's high value for the semi
arid regions, and even in the humid
regions has given exceedingly salts
factory results. Extensive expert
ments are being made with this grass
and arrangements have been made so
that sufficient seed will be grown for
all demands.
Rhodes grass Is continuing to show
it's high value for Florida and Gulf
coast conditions. American-grown
seed will be produced to meet the
continued growing demands.
Vetches.
Interest in the cultivation of
vetches, especially the hairy vetch,
continues to increase, and there Is
probably now greater acreage grown
than ever before. In many parts OF
the United States seed is now being
grown successfully. One difficulty in
+. the production of hairy-vetch seed,
which ordinarily must be grown with
small grain crop, has been the sep
aration of the seeds.
By means of the spiral seed sepa-
rator, this can easily be accomplished,
and these machines are now available
to American farmers. There is rea-
son to believe that within the near
future sufficient American seed will
be raised to meet the demands and
probably reduce the price Of seed
much below what is at present asked.
The department has recently intro
duced the purple vetch, which is
especially promising, inasmuch as it
yields as much hay and more seed
per acre than the common vetch.
Cowpeas.
The cowpea investigation, especial
ly in breeding, has resulted in the
production of a considerable number
of exceedingly promising new varie-
ties, some of which, especially from
the view point of seed production, are
apparently superior to any of the
standard varieties.
Alfalfa.
The breeding of improved varieties
of alfalfa, especially hardy and
drough-enduring strains, has devel-
oped new possibilities through the
finding Of forms of yellow-fowered
Medicago falcata that produce new
plants from true lateral roots. Ger
tain of the forms that possess this
character are good forage types, and
it is hoped that by hybridizing them
with selected plants of common al
falfa an extremely vigorous strain
will result.
AS a result of the recent introduce
ton of new roots of seed Of Peruvian
alfalfa, the chances of establishing
this variety in the southwest are be-
coming extremely favorable. Peruvian
alfalfa has so thoroughly demonstrate
ed its value as quick-growing strain
for warm climates that little difficulty
ts anticipated in getting it thoroughly