American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1915-09-23
Causes $500, 900 Loss to Pa
louise Wheat Growers.

the Palorse country should put south
ern Idaho wheat growers on their
guard to prevent a like loss here. II
10 not probable that losses here will
ever be SO great as there, but the in
crease In the amount Of smut the past
two years should be taken as a hint
and steps taken to see that nothing
is left undone to forestall such losses.
The weekly news letter OF the Col
lege OF Agriculture, University OF
Idaho, says:
The statement has been made on high
authority, that 300 threshing machines
we're lost last year in the Palouse
country through combustion caused
by smut In the wheat crop. The same
authority states that the loss to the
Palouse country is lot less than half
a million dollars. This does not in
clude the discount In price because OF
the presence of smut In the grain.
One authority has placed the loss at
not less than 25 per cen Of the Ell
tire production. A loss OF 25 per cent
on the staple crop of an entire area
as large as that Of the Palouse coun-
try IL a g%revious loss. 1t should GER
tainly tend to rivet the attention of
all classes on the probable causes
that have led to such a calamity with
a view to having them removed.
One-CrOp system Means Disaster.
II is not the intention to discuss the
causes that led to the presence OF
smut In the wheat crop. 1t is not the
Intention to discuss the methods OF
treating the seed to prevent smut. II
Is rather the aim to show first that
tho nna-nrnn qyQtan In ar rio kI., Lad.
to disaster; second, that a sensible
rotation Is likely to reduce the pres
ence OF smut, and third, that such a ro-
tatlon must tend to the
growth OF livestock.
The n crop system invariably
leads to disaster. This may come In
various ways. In North Dakota 1t has
come In the form OF diminished yields.
the dominion OF weed life and I'm the
form OF fungus diseases praying on
the plant life both above and below
the surface OF the ground. In North
Dakota. with one OF the best wheat
soils In the world, the average Yield
is not more than ~ or 10 bushels per
acre. Formerly II was 25 bushels to
the acre. Farmers In North Dakota
have said to the writer that not less
than rs per cent OF a reduction in
yields was caused by the prevalence
OF weeds In the crops. Such preva-
lence Is largely accounted for by the
extent to which the one crop system
prevails In that state. Professor BoIey
has stated as u result of his i%nvcsti-
cations. the roots OF the wheat crop
are attacked with certain fungus en-
emies, and that as n result the wheat
yields have been greatly reduced.
In the Big Bend country, Washing
ton, the farmers have grown wheat
exclusively. What has been the out
come? Why, the vegetable matter has
been 80 completely taken out of the
soil that much OF 1t shifts with every
strong and forclble wind. Weeds have
come In to such an extent that far
mers have In many Instances been
driven out. This condition could as
suredly have been prevented by the
practicing of n judicious system OF ro-
tation.
Rotation for Pal0use Country.
Now In the Palouse country
the invasion of smut. Is this purely
accidental, or Is II the inevitable out
come of the n crop system? Did
the practice OF the farmers pave the
way for results so direful when the
weather conditions became favorable?
VIII the same rotation lessen the evil?
are questions that should en-
the serious attention OF every
farmer In the Palouse country.
Suppose the farmers generally I'm
the Palouse country practiced q ju-
rotation. would they be trou-
with smut as they are at the
present time? As a result of inquiry
made at various meetings held recently
In the Palouse country | am led to be-
lieve that II crops of clover or alfalfa
are grown between the crops Of wheat
the prevalence Of smut would be great
~ reduced. The testimony on this
was contradictory. but the bur-
den OF the evidence pointed to the fact
hat where crops OF grass, clover or
alfalfa interviewed between the wheat
crops h presence of smut was much
less pronounced than when these crops
we're not grown. The question thus
raised is n OF great significance. So
much so that II is well worthy OF the
attention OF every scientist and every
Iarmer In the Palouse country.
Why SO Prevalent ,
When the Palouse country was first
was smut ms prevalent as now
rhe general trend of testimony Is that
I was not. Why Is Il so prevalent
low? Can those who advocate contin- /,
wheat growing, and their name is 4,
egion, tell why? II smut was less /
prevalent In those early days, why Is ,
I prevalent now? There must be a /,
What is that reason? /
The balance OF the testimony gath :
red by the writer was to the effect .
hat where clover and alfalfa crops ,
ntervened smut was less prevalent :
han where wheat was the only CROP /,
.rown. II this view should he sus- /,
aimed by honest and varied testimony :
I would mean that In the Palouse coun :
ry the diversification Of crops is an ,
Imperative necessity. =
Such diversification would mean In :
'rease In livestock production. Such
would mean the growth of
lover, alfalfa and mixed grasses. The
'rowth OF these would necessitate the
Introduction OF livestock. This would
mean good prices for meat and dairy Z
PRODUCTS. II would mean the furnish Q