Durant weekly news. (Durant, Choctaw Nation, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 190?-1944, 1914-10-09
DEEP FALL FLOWING.

gJnE 81 the fundamental principles OF
sgDud farming. This Is facognized by
Warmers the world over. and is being
prucuced almoft altogether in those
eounties wherei the greatest improve
meni In crop production Is to be
Eonmd. One OF the chief reasons why
tfhe average yield of farm crops of all
xirds grown on the comparatively
new soils of this country is so far
bsiow the yield obtained in countries
which have been farmer for great
n1any years. Is that our farmers will
llu 30 to the trouble and expense of
preparing the proper seed bed for the
crops they plant. Our farmers can
never hope to approach the yields
secured in other countries until they
zadopf The practice of preparing better
sseesh beds for their crops.
Experience is a dear teacher, but
ssouae farmers will accept no other.
Certainly they should not in cases
Vuhere experience and teaching do not
.aErpe In this case. however, they
EravN bfore them the successful ex-
FJer1ente of farmers the whole world
71vsr Proper seed bed preparation
Is important in all sections. but It
lis especially necessary in those sec
sdorS where the rainfall is light or
1IBssfsrtain. The experience of the past
Kew years should have impressed two
1hfnvs upon the minds of every farm
,ar living upon land where rainfall
mas been deficient. First, that soil
moisture is usually the most impor-
viaut factor in crop production. Sec
s0ni. Snat proper and seasonable prep
zarauon. followed by good cultivation.
vxU SDnserve moisture that otherwise
v7FDnin be lost 50 far as crop produc-
yliUn is concerned
VERY seldom is the summer rain
san ssufficient to mature a crop with
s1ut aht aid OF stored moisture. and
tllsfz stored moisture can only be OBJ
eained by making a seed bed in the
TIM nhat will absorb and hold the
waIn vwhiek falls in excess of the
sarJ0att needed at the time. In the
yExs-. shallow plowing has been the
S-1use OF loss to many farmers, and
IT "a stin practiced to great extent
NSoud results are sometimes obtained
IN spite of shallow plowing, and this
T1as r=ansed many to continue the prac
i Iice. on the other hand, there Is
soreu 10 be found a farmer who has
rirted deep plowing late in the season
ESx "a dry year, and failed to get good
r-ssIfrs on account Of the drying out
s1F the soil. Usually this is due to
fmurUper treatment of the soil after
EjEUsing, or the time of the year when
s1he plowing was done.
Et1s not possible to tell the exact
slcprh 10 which plowing should be
s1one- This varies with the locality,
rlhs crops to be grown, soil conditions,
thine OF plowing. etc. The lighter and
K-DOre uncertain the rainfall. the deep
~r the seed bed should be and the
.gz1rt er 1t should be made. Where the
e5on IS thin. the deepening process
sshoald be gradual and vegetable mat
Ter should be added to the soil from
TINE 70 Time so that the plant food in
che newly-turned land may become
sEESzaIable.
~ the soil is hard. stiff clay, and
II is turned early in the season, it
rSt-ay be allowed to remain without
EB1ditional treatment until the winter
frost has had a chance to act on it.
II Is never advisable, however, to
v5errdt the land to remain in that
~Undition until spring, for IL loses
vHUlsrure very rapidly when the
SEezther gets warm. Cover crops of
sssssne kind should be sown wherever
Che rainfall is ample, but in no case
ashDuld they be used where the mois-
trHwe VIII be needed for the regular
Crup
Te grain crops, like wheat or rye,
early plowing to a depth of six or
aseVen inches seems to give about as
=sUDd results on most soils as deeper
plcWIng. Tests show that anything
hess than six inches usually causes a
eleerease in the yield In most sec
N1Onz OF Oklahoma, the practice of
fhaEoughly descing the land immed-
Szasfy after wheat harvest and fol-
HDwing with a plow later. generally
Csunserve enough moisture to permit
S1f Ytowing loRg after land receiving
no treatment has become too dry to
usvr& Such crops as corn. kafir, milo
sand peanuts. profit by deep plowing.
vIzaaKiy the deeper the better, If done
sszay- 1t should be remembered,
FgOwWSer. that thorough pulverization
sABd gpuling of the soil before plant
Ting rs necessary for these crops. The
6-i~rcE of plowing makes but little
: nxHerence il the seed is placed in
iry, cloddy ground.
The working of the surface after
blowing should not be delayed unless
II IS thought desirable to leave the
GzncS1 rough in order to mellow IL.
szzze piowed soil should be fined as
A,znnrh sas possible, and firmed down
SsD dilat no large air spaces are loose,
v1nfferaped vegetable matter is left
sxE E5os bottom of the furrow to pre-
<4enS the moisture from coming UP
lflfxE1 below, or permit 1t to escape
fa5n1D the air. There is nothing better
alhszn a disc harrow to put plowed
1azin anto the proper shape to absorb
,szlnd hold the rainfall.
m 5s commonly accepted belief
I'm Ghe part of a great many farmers
thai cotton does not do well on land
usEf mas been piowed deep. Just
Nne reverse is true, however, as
uEzeaAcallY every farmer who has tri
sI3 ~ win testify. The cotton plant
needs a firm seed bed. but this doe:
E1uG unean that it will thrive besi
Cgisen placed on ridge made By
tk1gnBrfing a small amount of loose dir