The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1917-04-19
WHERE RAINFALL IS SCANT
THE HARROW C0NSERVES
THE MOISTURE.
FEED CROPS ARE SCARCE
High Prices for Beth Human and
Animal Food Make Intensive
and Extensive Farming
Necessary.

IHdl moisture mas been scarce in
the soil all winter, it Is necessary
that every measure be used that will
aid in the production of crops this
year Early and frequent cultivation
will help to conserve the moisture and
will kill the weed seeds that are ger.
minating,
one OF the best implements that can
be used for this early cultivation isl
the ordinary spike tooth harrow. The
moisture, as it rises from below.
passes on through the surface and
into the air and a granulatod soil
mulch maintained to a depth Of 3 to
312 inches over The surface will very
aid in holding the moisture
that we have in the soil. 1t is not
necessary tnat this mulch should be
so finely pulyer2ed that it becomes
dust for frequently when it is in that
condition, 1t prevents the rain from
oaklng into the soil. Moisture is
necessary to plant growth and the
big problem Of growing crops in okla
homa is the problem of conserving the
moisture or rainfall In this south.
western country the soil moisture
evaporation IS very rapid and every
means possible Should be employed
to prevent it.
For crops like the grain sorghums
1t is often times advisable to give one
or two civilizations before the seed is
planted. This helps to bring the TEN.
perature Of the soil up to a point
where the seed will germlnate qMck.
ly and grow right off. The first cult.
walton Of corn should be in close to
the corn and deep, and the following
Civilizations should be deep enough to
maintain granulated soil mulch over
the surface Of the soil sufficient to re.
tard evaporation.
a great deal is said these days about
the scarcity of food and, II you doubt
It, all that YOU have to do is to al.
tempt to buy some of the necessities
OF life and you will find that prices
have gone higher than was ever
known. All the cities and towns have
taken up the movement for growing
gardens on vacant lots and almost ev.
cry paper you read has something to
say that will encourage the planting
OF food products.
We should not forget that along
with a scarcity Of food products there
is shortage OF feed for the live
stock. Last year was rather a short
year for feed production and there
is a surprisingly small amount of feed
on the Oklahoma farms today. The
high prices that have been offered for
feed stuifs have drained the supply Ia
the limit and along with the short.
age Of food, there is also shortage
Of feed stufs. This condition will
reach a very serious point in okla
homa this year unless sufficient land
Is devoted to the production Of sure
crops.
Seed corn has been scarce this
year and in number Of places In the
state the folks who live on the prai
rie lands have gone to the river bot
toms for seed corn. The importing
Of seed corn from other states in a
dry year is almost always disastrous
and 80 likewise It is seldom possible
10 go into the bottom land and get
corn that has grown on rich, bottom
land and expect Il to grow on thin
prairie land and make a full crop.
Pasture helps the feed problem. ok
lahoma's native pastures are about
some and Il is necessary for us tC
take some steps In order TO furnish
pasture for our live stock. The cheap
est feed that can be raised Is pastur,
but that will not produce the best re
turns without some care and attention
over a large part Of Oklahoma. Ber
muda grass thrIyes Now Is the tim,
to start a Bermuda pasture. One o
the best ways To do il is 10 prepar,
the land as II you were going TO pu
in row crop and, after laying Il on
In rows about 30 inches apart OF
three feet, drop the roots, cover then
over and II will possibly be necessary
20 give them one or two civilizations
Some have been able 10 get q goo,
stand Of Bermuda by planting It ir
alternate rows with peanuts or m,
grain sorghums The cultivation glyer
10 the row crops In this way cult
Yates the Bermuda and gives some 9th
or feed IN addition. Il is too lat,
now 10 hope 10 get any good result
from the sowing Of seed. n sowi
early In the winter, frequently stan,
Of Bermuda can be obtained but II
cold, severe winter follows IL nearl,
always dies Bermuda should not b,
pastured so close In the fall that m,
roots will not be protected from N,
winter freezes. On the high. thil
spots, that are too rocky to cultivate
SOW a little Sweet Glover seed. !
will be a good plan 10 sow a little We
this spring, some this fall. and thei
a little again next spring. Sweet Clc
yer is making good over the state. |
will not grow successfully on land
that are sour. II you want TO know
how TO test your land for acid. asl
your County Ralph T. HemT
hill, Assistant State agent, saltwater
Okla