El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1917-07-05
CROPS PLANTED
ON STATE LANDS
Total of %, Al Acres N. M.
Leased Grazing Lands
Planted To Crops.

santa Fe, y NJ, July "a total OF
22,421 acres have been planted to va
rious food and forage crops on the
states leased grazing lands, accord
ing to a compilation q returns up TO
July 1. issued today by the state land
office Il is not expected that any
material additions will be made 10
the acreage Of this planting season.
Although state land commissioner
Robert p Ervien was on the ground
very early in the increased crop pro-
ductiou movement with his permit 70
farm lands under grazing lease with
out additional rental during the period
OF the war. the permit actually did
not reach the IeasehoIder until the
middle Of April. and 1t was then too
late for many Of them to change their
plans for the use OF leased land for
The present season. others were IN
able 10 plant because Of lack Of equip
ment and labor In view Of these con
ditiOns, and The fact that the leasers
Of the states grazing lands are stock
men. . majority without experience in
farming, the result in acreage planted
IS regarded as satisfactory for a first
class season
Many OF the Ieasers have written
The land office, that although they
were unable 10 plant any of their
leased land this season. they expect
10 break acreage this fall for plant
ing, either by winter wheat or in
preparation for next seasons crops.
From these assurances IL is estimated
that double the leased acreage now
actually In crops viii be broken this
fall.
Urges Following Advice.
WIKI his permit to farm on grazing
leases the land commissioner issued
an urgent recommendation that the
new farmers follow the advice Of the
state agricultural college experts and
plant only the crops known TO be best
adapted TO local conditions and late
season Planting, tie leaders being
New Mexico pinto beans, corn, sorEh-
ums and other well tried forage crops,
and Irish potatoes where conditions
were known 10 be favorable. The
grazing lease farmers have followed
this advice closely.
Of the 22.441 acres planted, more
than half the acres are in crops
named. the acreage being as follows
New Mexico pinto beans, 1926; corn,
@t55i sorghums. 577I; kaffir, 11f6;
milo maize, 237S; potatoes, 1861. The
balance Of the acreage is divided
among wheat. hay crops, oats, barley, Z
rye. broOmcOrn, ccwpeas and truck.
Only One County Not Included.
Livery county in the state is repre- /
scented in the returns except Berna-
lilo, where the acreage Of state land .
is small Union county leads in total I
acreage, with 29l2. QUAY is next
with Psi acres, and Curry county is I
third with 1897 acres The rest Of /
the counties range from 1907 acres in /
Guadalupe. 10 % acres in SandovaL I
A very large number Of holders Of 3
state grazing leases are farming on !
their own lands, or homestead claims ]
This fact led the land commissioner
10 issue blank asking for 1ntOrma-
lion as to acreage increase this season
on lands adjacent TO state lands A
total Of 40 farmers in 20 counties
answers these requests. showing a
total acreage being farmed- cOnCEu-
GUS 10 STATE land OF 1897, and an in
crease by these farmers over the acre
age farmed by them in 1915 OF 1853
acres These farmers on lands ad-
joining state land also make the big
four their leading crops, the returns
showing 1g6l acres IN New Mexico
pinto beans, 2414 acres in corn. $3.50
acres IN SOrEhumE, 2l36 IN milo and
1899 in kaffir- All OF these latter re-.
turns are from lands owned by hold
ers Of state grazing leases and con
tiEuOus 10 OF within one mile Of their
leased lands II
The land commissioner has left IL
wholly TO the Judgment and convent
or not any Of his leased land be ,
Tarned- Il has not been desired TO
disturb grazing lands where such /
lands would bring better results in
food production in carrying cattle or .
sheep. The response 70 the permit,
however, has been such as 10 enc0ur-
age the land office 70 a vigorous cam =
pziEn TO extend the acreage next sea ,
son. should the crops harvested prove
satisfactory