The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1920-07-08
FARMERS MAKE TOUR


weeds were noticeably lacking excep-
ting in one or two fields where the
farming was undeniably poor, and
an effort was made to question as
many farmers as possible in their
methods of handling soil. The far
mers are absolutely of unit in the
fact that you must plow early and
they are almost in equal agreement
IN advising to plow deep at least once
IN a while. Henry Howell has this
year plowed HOO acres IL inches
deep. They are strongly in favor of
deep plowing. AS announced in the
letter describing the tour the farmers
were keenly interested in discover
ing what methods the farmers OF
Sherman county were using TO over
come weeds and it was found that
they had very decided system that
mad given them splendid results. We
commend it to the consideration Of
farmers in Morrow county.
As to the question of the time Of
seeding the farmers agree that it is
better TO wait until about the 18th
day of October unless it rained. If
however, on the 18th of October no
rain was in sight they simply seeded
in the dust. They didn't harrow be-
fore seeding unless they had rain.
if they had rain to sprout weeds,
they narrowed before seeding. If
they sowed in the dust, however,
they were especially careful that the
grain did not get in too deep, from
IL inch to 1 1-2 is deep enough.
There is very little chance of turkey
wheat getting through the ground If
placed deeper than this as it comes
up in a very slender stalk. After
seeding in the dust there is nothing
more done to the grain until it has
rained and the grain has sprouted
nearly an inch long. After the grain
is sprouted and they have waited long
enough until they are sure that most
of the weeds are also sprouted then
they Immediately get on to the
ground with light harrow and thor
oughly harrow it, in so doing they
break up the first tendency of the
ground to crust and after this first
wetted dust has been broken up the
granulated surface so formed is not
nearly so likely to crust again. Be-
sides this the weeds have been large
ly destroyed and the wheat will then
take them. Victor Smith says that
you either grow weeds or wheat, 81
SOW plenty of wheat. The members
of the committee succeeded in Sc
curing Victor Smith and Henry How
ell, two we'll known farmers of Sher.
man county to make the trip across
Gillian and visit the farm sections
around lone. They were very mucf
impressed with the fact that Morrow
county farmers are practicing better
summerfallow methods than theil
neighbors in Gillian county and thu
splendid fields of summerfallow ar
ound lone were fairly appreciated
as we'll as the good fields of whea
which were seen around this section
of the country. They are absolutel,
agreed that the soil conditions nea
lone are very similar to those aroun'
Wasco and that good tillage will tel
in the long run. We do not doub
but the time is near at hand wheI
the same yields will be received fror
the wheat lands around lone that ar
being received around Wasco today
When that time comes Morrow coun
ty will yield as much wheat per yea
as Sherman county does. There ar
some splendid fields Of wheat aroun
Morrow county this year and they a
show that good farm practice is bein
followed,