Durant weekly news. (Durant, Choctaw Nation, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 190?-1944, 1915-12-17

In regard 20 The cultural mefhe

rracuced IN the county, the report
says that most Of the farmers who
operate their own farms are pro
gressivc. but that on many tenant
farms the agricultural methods are
soor. Flowing Is usually done when
ever convenient. but as rule It Is
better to plow as early as possible In
the fall. The plowing Is often too
shallow for best results and the sys-
tenn OF bedding" over the cid fur
row between the ridges Is inefficient.
Cotton receives the most attention:
corn. on the other hand. Is not MS
ually cultivated Ions enough. possi-
bly, be cause the labor is spent on the
cotton instead.
Thirty-One soil Types
Thirty-one soil types are mapped
in Bryan county. They are divided
broadly into two groups. the upland
soils and the alluvial soils OF the first
and second bottoms along the
streams. or these the upland soils
are by far tne most extensive. The
same general farm crops are pro
duced on all the soils. Oats. howev-
er. are grown on the heavier prairie
upland. principally on the Houston
black vlay and Durant loan. With
cotton the Miller and Usage soils.
Houston black clay. and the Teller
very fine sandy loan. produce the
best yields. The best grade OF cot
ton with the longest fiber Is said
to be grown on the Durant fine sandy
loan. Corn does best on the Miller
and Usage soils and the Teller very
fine sandy loan. Houston black clay,
Durant loan. and Durant fine sandy
loan also produce good yields in
good seasons.
The Durant fine sandy loan Is the
most extensive soil type in the ccun-
ty. covering one-fourth OF the sur
face. The largest areas are encoun-
tered In a belt extending east snd
west through the north central sec
tion OF the county. Most OF the land
occupied by this type Is gently roll
ing to hilly. The drainage is good
but in some sections the steep slopes
are subject to erosion. The soil Is
dark brown in color and underlain
at 2 to inches by a lighter brown
OF yellowish brown loan OF heavier
texture. The soil is adapted 10 q
wide variety of crops and is chiefly
used for cotton. corn and. peanuts
and vegetables for home use. There
are a few good peach and near orcss
ards on the .spe and berries do we'll
Cotton yields average about one-hall
bale per acre and corn about 40 bU'
shells. Soil yields may be easily in
creased by better methods OF cult
walton. etter system Of crop rota
tion and by keeping humus in thu
soil. The type is well suited to pea
nuts and is simproved by the cultiva
tion Of this cI ,. The yields rang
from 40 to 75 bushe,s per acre.
In extent the Durant loan come
next to the Durant fine sandy loan
Practically all Of this soil is on farm
and a very large part OF It is cultivat
ed. The yields average somewha
higher than on the Durant fine sand,
loan. the average being one-half q
two-thirds OF bale OF cotton pc
acre and for corn 25 TO so bushel
per acre. The soil. however. is no
so well adapted for vegetables. Der
ries and fruit as the Durant fin
sandy loan. Other types OF this sol
which are not found so extensively Il
the county are the Durant clay. Du
rant very fine sandy loan. Duran
stony sandy loan. and the Duran
fine sand.
Another important series found o
the upland is the Houston. Thes
: soils are black. with subsoils dar
brown. yellowish brown. notified yel
low and gray. or brown and gray. Tn
Houston black clay occupies one
tenth the area OF Bryan county. It
a black, heavy. waxy clay Of about
to 90 inches deep. When wet thi
soil is very sticky and cultivation
Impossible. Under proper moistur
conditions. however. Il works up int
mellow. friable tilth with loan
structure. The type extends alIn
the northern border OF the count,
5 varying In width from one 10 fiy
miles Locally It is known as ''bIac
land" It is well adapted to cottoi
corn. oats. wheat. alfalfa. sorghum
, kafir. and milo. The principal crop
: however. are cotton. corn. and oat
I II is regarded as strong. produc
! i've soil and nearly all Of Il is impro'
ed and cultivated The Houston ella