The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1914-01-29
Wheat Never Looked Finer, Says
McNabb-May Need some Har-
rowing Where Pastured
While Ground Wet
GIVES POINTERS ON
ALFALFA PLANTING
Farmers Busy in Fields Everywhere
Firm Seed Bed for Alfalfa
Necessary to Secure a
Stann

According to C. A. McNabb, agricul
uural agent for Grady county, the crop
outlook for 1914 in this county is as
bright as a balmy spring morning after
the mortgage on the old home has
been paid off and the folks have just
finished packing up for a trip TO see
John graduate from the school OF SCI.
entilic farming.
Also, Mac knows what he is talking
abcui and what he says comes from
direct observation Of the conditions in
the country as he makes pilgrimages
here and there over the county 10
spi ad the gospel of better farming,
and lot from opinions concocted from
the coy warmth of his office.
Il have never seen wheat looking
finer" said Mr., McNabb. 1T has. in
the past several weeks. been pastured
quite extensively. which fact has done
away with the possibility Of its Joint
iag ahead OF time. Some Of the farm.
ers may have to do little narrowing
IN the spring. where .hey havs pas.
tured the wheat while the ground was
exceedingly wet This viii be neces-
sary in the event there are no freezes
during February aud March, but in
the event OF some good hard freezes.
the ground will be loosened up and
the narrowing, IN mos, cases. will not
be necessary. ! am going to watch
that condition pretty closely. Outside
OF that don't see where the cond,
tion Of the wheat crop could be i'm
proved
Another thing am glad TO see. is
SO much activity among the farmers.
Il shows that they are taking every
advantage Of the time that is theirs
before spring The fields over the
country are literally filled with farm.
ers az work They are plowing. cut
ting stalks and putting the ground in
good condition for spring sowing.
There win be a great acreage Of al
falfa sowed in the early spring. I'm
glad Of that for there is no better
crop for the farmer than alfalfa.
In Grady county there are fully
100000 acres OF choice alfalfa land.
yet the 1910 census gives but 5000
acres seeded with alfalfa
m has increased some since then
and should increase a great deal more.
! would like to see the alfalfa acre
age doubled every year for three or
four years to come,
Some OF the farmers are making I
right now in preparing their
alfalfa land for spring sowing and
am calling their attention to it as fast
as can get to them. They are plow-
ing and preparing the wrong kind OF
a seed bed for the crop. Alfalfa must
have a good, firm seed bed to get the
proper stand. In many instances. it is !
not necessary to pillow at all. Simply
rake the stalks up and Jurn them, and
hate to advise even that. Then run
q disc over the ground and pulverize
the top, leaving a good. firm seed bed |
After that, harrow the
land TO leave as level a surface as
possible. SOW broadcast in the spring |
and cover lightly with a harrow, teeth
set straight, and a good stands Of al /
falfa will be the result in 80 cases out
of 100.
There is only one thing for those
who have plowed and plowed deep for
alfalfa to do. and many of them are |
not doing it. They must pack the
land. Don't for goodness sake attempt
to pack it with roller. That is the |
most worthless tool in Oklahoma. Run |
a disc over the land time and again |
with the discs set straight That will
pack the soil and leave the surface
rough to prevent blowing After pack
ing thoroughly with the disc. get in
with the harrow and pulverlze the
large clods. also level the ground for
the coming Of the moving machine. I
saw the other day a farmer plowing