Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1917-09-03
THE DAILY JOURNAL
whose circulation Is guaranteed by ne
Audft Bureau Of Calculations.
VALLEY MUST GROW RECORD CROP

The Oregon Agricultural College experts following q
suggestion of the Capital Journal that the spottedness OF
crops in the Willamette valley this year was matter well
worth investigating for the that 1T could not be
due to accident has been examining into the matter ano
finds the principal for the vast difference In YIELDS
was due to the time of planting These experts say that
wheat in this valley should be planted in the fall because
due to weather conditions, it is impossible to ploW and
plant properly in the spring Much OF the land is TOO wet
flat lands and clay so which if powed too wet bake and
if left until dry enough to be properly cultivated the sea-
son is too far gone to permit growth oregon has TWO
well defined seasons the winter being pretty consistently
wet and the summers developing but little rainfall The
consequence is that crops planted in the spring must be
put in early get the benefit of the spring rains With
crops that can be cultivated the early powing with its
more or less baked ground be partly overcome but
with wheat and other cereals this cannot be done; the
result is that spring grain on the class OF LANDS
described has to make its growth and mature without any
rain This is of the most important matters before
the Oregon farmer, and especially important just now
when it is UP to him to make the valley produce the great
est possible amount of breadstus. This not only
the planting of every available acre. but the making Of
that acre give the greatest possible yield According to
the O. A. c. to accomplish this all the to be planted
to wheat should be planted this fall Our open winters
permits the wheat to get well rooted and to make strong
growth that when Spring comes and the rains cease
the stalks are in condition to reach maturity earlier and
to fill properly before the ground gets dry.
No doubt the experts have found the real reason for
the spottedness of last years yields Now the question
how to obvae the difficulties which prevent the plant
ing of grain in the fall Lack Of teams said to be one
reason of the failure winter wheat and this lack
enhanced by the dryness of the ground during the sum-
mer which prevents summer following 1t would seem
that some steps should be taken by other than farmers to
help alleviate this condition. and that commercial clubs
county courts city councils if necessary and all civic
bodies should begin campaign now to see that where
farmer is unable to get his ground pOWed that help is
given him to get this DONE Most farmers unable to
own big gasoline driven gang pow for the reason their
holdings are too small to justify it, Here is chance for
practical aid by the county courts and the bodies we have
IN A Of
much if any shortage there will be in the way of facilities
for plowng, and arrangement could be made for
either purchasing leasing such plowing machinery as
would take care Of all these needs The country wants
every bushe of wheat that be grown 1t has fixed a.
price upon it that makes it most profitable crop and
from financial standpoint every bushe should be raised
that it is possible to grow From patriotic viewpoint
the call to till every available and get the most from
it possible is still stronger for the who feeds the
boys at the front doing his bit just surely as the
man who is behind the gum