The Durant news. (Durant, Miss.) 1882-1985, 1943-05-27
Hundred Farmers See
Soil Improvements
In Holmes County
Eighteen Forms Are
Visited In Six
Communities

The Six Farm Community Tours made
in Holmes County last week were at
tended by approximately 100 farmers
and agricultural workers from this and
other counties in the state. The improv-
ed farm practices occupying greatest
amount of interest and study were pas
ture building, legume seed production
and terracing.
In every community visited, farmers
were shown fields of Wild Winter Peas,
White Dutch Glover, Hop Glover, and
in some cases vetch, to be harvested
within the next few days. In the hill
area of the county, Wild Winter Peas
showed up best, where they had re-
ceived an application of acid phosphate
and lime, or basic Stag. Potash appli-
cations on small areas also showed
splendid results. Most all of the areas
visited had been heavily grazed during
the winter months and in some cases
as late as the middle of April. The late
grazed areas indicated reduced yields.
Much interest was shown by farmers
in the production of White Dutch Glover
as a pasture and as a profitable seed
crop. Of these crops visited, we found
those planted in September or October
that had received an application Of lime
and phosphate or basic Stag better than
those planted in the spring. The prepa-
ration of the soil before planting was
outstanding. Where the sod was thor
oughly disked, pulverized and smoothed
before the crop was planted better
crops were growing. This is a crop which
produces best results on second bot
toms and fairly good soils properly fer
tilted. Poor hillside soils should be i'm
proved by fertilization and the grow
ing of nitrogen bearing crops before
being planted to White Dutch Clover.
A great deal of interest was shown
in drainage system established by c. l..
Downer in the Acona Community on
flat bottom soil. 1t was done with the
use of terraces, row arrangement and
V-typed bitches. We found q splendid
crop growing on the land where in the
past we were told that stands were
hard to get or maintain on account OF
standing water. These terraces were
built with slips at the rate of 800 to
1000 feet per day by two laborers and
a pair Of mules.
Most OF all the practices established
on the farms visited were established
within the last year with the exception
of some of the Wild Winter Peas and
White Dutch Clover. This fact was
pointed out to the visiting party with
the idea of showing the improvements
on tours in years to come.
Soil conservation work of Holmes
County has beer coordinated and a con-
tinued effort will be mad in getting
farmers to grow more legume seed for
their own use as well as for the mar
ket, grow more improved pasture and
winter legumes for soil building and
terrace their fields and pastures to save
soil and give better drainage.
Farms visited were: George Mitchell,
w. A. Thomas, Goodman community; W.
J Waits, Pickens; Downer Bros, ]. L.
Braddock, W. B. Peacock, Acona COM
munity; Thompson and Carroll, Louie
Beall Nichols, H. p. Watson, lexington;
P. A. Jones, Howard; J. w. Morris, C.
O.. Sudbeck, Eugene Thomas, Pat Bar
rett, j.. M. Kimbrough, Bowling Green;
H. l.. Nichols, A. B. Archer, j. T. Thorn
'6a!unmmoo Is5nIO-sInqoL $50