Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1915-07-23
CROP ROTATION
TESTS ATTRACT
Experiments Prove That In Crop Ro-
tation Crops of Entirely Different
Families Must BE Grown to
Produce Good Results

Unusual interest attached to the
excursion of farmers and business
men to the college experimental
plots on the Hegnauer tract, south of
town, last Saturday afternoon, and
nearly 200 interested spectators OBJ
served the results of one of the most
interesting and conclusive expert
ments ever conducted by the station
experts. The experiment was con-
Quoted for the purpose of showing
the effect of previous crops upon a
subsequent crop of wheat, and the
results were so marked as to be
plainly visible to any novice. Side
by side In the 20-acre tract of land
were two plots which showed the
two extremes In effect, one plot hav-
ing been summer-fallowed last year
and the other planted to wheat. On
the summer fallowed plot Is stand
of wheat that will easily make 40
bushels per acre, while on the plot
that has grown wheat two years In
succession the stand of wheat Is
hardly worth the harvest.
The interesting experiment was
started last year, when the tract was
plotted and IL different crops raised,
several of the plots being summer
fallowed. The entire tract was
plowed and planted at the same
time to College Hybrid No. 143, a
spring wheat. The decided differ
ence In the stand of wheat on the
various plots proved that crop rota-
ton is somewhat of science itself,
and that haphazzard rotation prac-
tees are as ill-adyised as continuous
wheat, oats or barley.
Probably the best stand of wheat
this year is on the summer fallowed
plots, although the plots which last
year produced sugar beets and pota-
toes are almost as good, some of the
farmers claiming that they will yield
even better. Close behind, In the
order named, come the plots last
year planted to beans, carrots, corn
and peas, all these plots showing a
stand of wheat that would mean dol
lars and cents to any farmer.
In direct contrast are the plots
which last year were planted to
wheat, oats, barley, sorghum and
millet, on which the yield of wheat
will be probably not half that of the
other plots.
Each plot is plainly marked to
show the crop raised last year, and
the interested farmers were led
through the field by Professor C. c.
Thorn, head of the soils division, who
conducted the experiment. The ex-
pertinent proves conclusively two
things: first, that crops requiring
deep cultivation take little fertility
out of the soil; and second, that in
crop rotation practice, crops of en-
tireIy different families must be
raised on alternate years to produce
the best results; for instance, wheat
after potatoes, corn, peas, etc, rather
than wheat after wheat, oats, barley,
etc.
The experiment, while not intend
ed as smut demonstration, serves
to prove conclusively that wheat, re-
CARELESS of the conditions under
which it Is planted. should be treat
ed for smut. The plots upon which
the rotation experiment was conduct
ed were planted to wheat that was
not treated, and are probably so per
cent smutty. An adjoining tract,
planted to treated wheat, Is almost
entirely free from smut.
Because OF the lack OF time for
advertising, many farmers were not
aware that the pilgrimage would
take place Saturday and to these the
college officials extend an invitation
to visit the plots at any time within
the next 10 days. The different
plots are plainly marked, and the re-
suits can easily be seen. The tract
Is Just east OF the Chapman resi-"
dence, south of town.