The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1935-04-23
BY JAMES L. KILGALLEN
Copyright. 1895. by International
News Service)

By JAMES L. KILGALLEN
Copyright. 1895. by International
| News Service)
DALHART, Texas, April az
Combating dust storms in this
country is "a question Of pre-
paredness."
Ten months to a years advance
preparation is necessary to do the
job right, according to H. H. Fin
nell, regional director Of soil ero
sion and one of Americas fore
most authorities on scientific
farming in the semiarid regions.
Ffnnel is the man the Govern
ment has selected to take the
leading part in carrying on vino
erosion work in the field. He il
in charge of the Government
&c, 000-acre project at DalhArt ir
the Texas Panhandle where farm
ers are being taught scientific
methods of reducing soil impover
ishment.
MUST GET START
you've got to be prepared
for dust storms long before they
break" said FinnelI. "Wind
erosion Is something that once
permitted to start cannot be eco
nOmically controlled. The only
sound way is to establish a sys-
tenn of preparation which will
insure sufficient vegetation to
anchor the soil the year around"
Finnell is telling the farmer:
who are cooperating with him or
the project here that although
much damage has been inflicted
on the soil by wind this can be
prevented in the future by the
adoption of sound farm practices
These practices include:
1. Conservation and use Of
crop Stubbles.
2. Moisture conservation to
prevent crop failures.
3. The planting Of an emeF-
gency cover crop where land Is
threatened with the loss Of Its
protective vegetation.
4. Planting of wind break
trees in favorable locations.
S. Deep tillage operations.
METHODS OF PREVENTION
The project at Dalhart serves
as a demonstration to farmers
county agricultural agents anC
teachers of what the Government
regards as the best methods Of
preventing wind damage to the
soil. Ultimately, FinnelI hopes
these practices will be adopted
by farmers Of the entire wind
swept area of the West.
Dust storms are most frequent
this year, Finnell explained, be
cause larger areas Of neglected
land are exposed to wind erosion
"The storms are not due to
increased wind velocity" said
FinneIl. "Our record and OBJ
servations show that wind
storms have not increased In
| VcAOClCy VI AAC4NCAOyS
"What has happened is this:
Large acreages Of land have
been abandoned and not pro-
vided with proper cultivation
and vegetative cOverage. This
unprotected land has become
very dry because Of lack Of
rainfall. Ordinary winds there
fore are able to pick up the
dust and whirl away millions OF
tons Of rich top SOIL"
NEW TO FARMERS
Dust storms were new to farm
ers few years ago, according tc
Finnell. But now storms Of thi:
nature are frequent and farmers
are forewarned. Consequently they
are now eager to cooperate with
the Government in adopting any
sound methods designed to com
bat these recurring storms.
"Vegetative covering is the
only permanent solution to
wind erosion" declared Fin
nell. 'In the past we have not
managed our soil and moisture
resources to the best advantage.
But in the light Of experiment
and demonstration farm erS
should now by proper methods
of cultivation take full advan-
tage of all the moisture that
falls on the land"
PROGRAM EXTENDED
Finnell said that in view Of the
recent development Of dust storms
over q much wider area than for
merly, the Government is extend
ing the wind erosion control pro
gram over a number Of Western
States. In this program the Gov
eminent will supply the seed anc
power for cultivating and plant
ing all abandoned land according
to prescribed methods and will re
imburse the farm for the labol
thus expended.
"We're starting ct scratch on
this dust storm business" Fin
nell asserted. ITS . big job.
If nature will provide us with .
little moisture, I'm sure it can
be done and the country i'm.
meaSurably benefited"
II LOANS AT so
ON downtown centrally located bust
ness property. Also apartment house
loans at 51x% Reasonable commits
| siOns.
TYLER 3 RUTHERFORD. INC.
! ~ ~ V0