The Fallon standard. (Fallon, Nev.) 1920-1958, 1923-03-21
Farm
Urges Pasture
For Project
Grain and Grass Can
be Planted to Advan-
taee by Farmers

With the tendency to expand on
dairying throughout this project the
experiment farm under the manage
ment of F. B. Headley, is figuring
out methods to establish pastures, it
being realized that alfalfa alone is
not the ideal dairy feed. 1t has been
shown that while cows thrive on
straight alfalfa, with pasture they
produce even a higher milk result
and also butterfat tests. In order to
advise the planting of the best of
permanent grass for pasture, Mr..
Headley is endeayoring to form mix
lures that will bring out the desired
results.
In speaking of this he stated that
while several good grass pastures
had been established, in most cases
before the experiment was advanced
far enough that the farmer had
plowed under his experiment, or had
sown to something else, thus post
poning the data of the results.
Recently several farmers, where
the soil is right have been plant
ing mixtures of grasses as suggested
by the station, and considerable acre
age will be devoted to pasture grass
es, especially among the farmers who
have gone back to cows for the pay
day.
In looking over the maps at the
Office 1t is shown that approximately
90 mn oarae of urnund fo oixynp ovar
to alfalfa in this valley which will
leave a surplus of hay on hand that
neither finds market or is fed. In
fact about one-eighth of this crop is
left over with no profits 1t is the
contention of Mr.. Headley that one
eighth of the hay land should be
taken over by cereals and pastures
he pointing out that there is a lack
of wheat, barley and oats raised in
this section. There is not a season
but that farmers ship out grain in the
| fall and buy 1t back in the winter
and spring. Barley has never been
drug On the market and wheat has
always sold at a premium before
spring. He is urging that more wheat
be planted, as the local flour mill is
importing wheat to blend with that
bought early in the season. Several
merchants and commission houses
have brought in carload lots of wheat
for resale TO the farmers of the pro-
ject.
Figuring that one-eighth of the
present alfalfa crop could be turned
to grains, he is confident that good
profits could be secured and that the
local people could at least be sup
piled with chicken feed, which at
present is being imported.
At the station is shown possibly
the best diversified orchard in the
state, as it embraces practically every
fruit bearing tree that is of CONNER
cial value in this zone. Apples, pears.
nlums, cherries, small fruits and ser
eral experimental trees are undai
cultivation, all reared with an idec
of commercialism to the people o.
this section. Mr.. Headley states that
he is confident that grapes of hard,
varieties could be grown CONNER
cially in this valley. As was pointed
out those owning orchards or grape
vines make no attempt to save tLt
fruit in case of threatened frost. II
meet instances they simply allow the
frcst to take the crop, whereas
snudging or other protection would
be almost a guarantee of crops cach
yoar on a commercial basis.
Lessons in pruning and spraying
are available at the station, and
some splendid examples of pruning
are shown in the orchard. A spray
ing demonstration is to be given at
an early date, or as soon as this mat
ter can be arranged between the local
farm bureau and the interested farm
ers of the project.
The soil testing plant is one of the
interesting features of the station
Soils that bake are being treated,
perculation is established by mix
lures. Grains and alfalfa are ger
minated in order to prove the worth
of fertilizers, while tests are in con
stant process on the waters as they
come from the different drainage
canals, thus showing the alkaline
contents that are being drawn off
each drainage section.
There is always something new to
be found at the plant and problems
that stick the farmers. new and old,
can be submitted to the station with
an assurance that all in science will
be applied to relieve the situation.