Farmers' champion. (Elgin, Okla.) 1912-1922, 1916-09-27


ment Of Agriculture
Because of the great distance of the
panhaudlc Of Texas from large mar
kets and the consequent dcSiruhllity Of
feeding t0 stock large portion Of the
crops raised. mixed farming 1t is tie
clnred by specialists IN the United
States department of agriculture, is the
only profitable type of agriculture for
the region. The conditions making the
carrying op of mixed farming opera
lions imperative II adequate returns
are to be- received are outlined in
Farmers Bulletin 73S. recently issued
by the department.
In the Panhandle section the sor-
ghums, especially milo, kaiir and feier-
ita, are the principal crops grown, oc-
cupying about three-fourthS of the TO
tai cultivated area. In addition 10
these the small grains have mn impor-
tnnt, though minor, place In the ngri-
cultural scheme.
The bulletin recommends the grow
ing of winter wheat. spring oats, win
ter rye and prose. Winter grains, II
the Panhandle than spring grains, and
spring oats is the only one of the lat
ter that has proved even fairly profit
able. At the present time the winter
wheat crop is of much more Importance
from money standpoint than spring
oats. Both these crops, however, can
he used 10 advantage in "A general
farming system.
Winter rye is desirable because of
its hardness. Though its yields are
not the equal of those OF winter wheat,
II nearly always comes through the
winter in good shape and it has never
failed to produce more seed than was
sowed This cannot he said of wheat
At the present time, however. very lit
tie rye is grown in the Panhandle.
Prose- is II species of millet intro
duced from Russia and often called
: hog mllet and broom corn millet. II
is grown for grain. not for hny. and
! poultry. To the dry land farmer It's
| chief yulul is its carlincss. for prose-
can produce II crop of seed in two
months or less from the time of seed
Ing. The bulletin recommends that
this crop should be raised for home
use, but warns the grower that II is
not likely Ia he profitable when sold
on the market.
] For the growing of winter grains the
land should be prepared rs early In
| the summer ns possible and plowed iu
Il depth of at least elk inches. Weeds
should not be allowed to get n start,
| hut In keeping them down care must
| be taken not Ia fine the surface soil too
! much. Fine surface land will blow
more than II 1t is left somewhat rough
and the high winds which prevail
| throughout the Panhandle must be
reckoned with in all agricultural oper.
ntions. Increased yields are obtained
from alternating summer fallow and
crops. but the increase is not lnrgo
enough to pay for the extra work In.
volved.
As has been said. the sorghum crops
occupy the most Important place In
Panhandle agriculture. These grow
| ''N' ~ INV illl 'ii' l''lN' lilf SUI 'IN
so that II is not advisable 10 follow
them with winter grain. II is better
10 grow some lcgumluous crop like COW
peas the next year and to follow this
with wheat or rye.
Wheat should he sown about Octobe,
IL, though In nm average season any
time from October To November |
will do. The amount of moisture IN
the soil nj seeding time and the sub
sequcnt weather conditions have d
greater influence upon the yield than
the date upon which the crop is sown
Three pecks per acre Is the rate rec
commended under ordinary conditions
The Turkey type Is probably the best
for this region.
Rye Is the other winter grain recon
mended In the bulletin. Spring rye. II