The Durant news. (Durant, Miss.) 1882-1985, 1945-06-07
Soil Conservation
Tour Made Thurs.

The farm of p. s. Parkinson, two
miles south of Durant, consisting of
III acres was visited by farmers on
the pasture tour last Thursday to sec
his 81 acre improved pasture and
excellent dairy herd.
Mr.. Parkinson purchased this farm
with assistance from FSA in 1898.
He has made his farm profitable by
using all Of its acreage. In other
words. ne has no idle acres. He has
fertilized his pasture with lime and
phosphate each year since 1912 and
the grasses on II consist of common
lcspedeza. dallis and Bermuda. He
secured dallis grass seed from the
sides Of the highway by paying his
boys TO harvest il by hand. This
seed was scattered over his pasture
and today he has a good stand.
Before Improvement practices
were introduced, this pasture was
growing carpet grass, some Bermu-
da and bitterweeds. Mr.. Parkinson
uses the moving machine when
needed. He Ia grazing II head OF
cattle and milks on the average Of
ten cows per day the year round.
In 1914 his record with Pet MIX
Company shows that he received pay
for milk shipped in the amount OF
o7e1o0.
Mr.. Parkinson has always rented
Land before 1898. He has given
three Of his eve children q high
school education, one girl graduated
st n. 8. c. w. and another girl 10
attending Holmes Junior College.
Not only n Mr.. Parkinson making
NJ payments regularly. he Ii FUR
nhhdnG more Of The convenience OF
lfe and opportunities to his family.
fAom0 Form
On the farm Of Mr.. W. A. Thomss
nesr Goodman, q IL acre field VI
Sericea lespedeza was observed. Mr..
Thomas planted this crop In 1910
and has fertilixed Il with basic Stag
and phosphate the last four years
and has graxed II three years. He
finds this plant good for hay, soil
Improvement and likewise a life
saver for grazing in the dry hot
months Of July and August. He
plans TO plant more Of this clover.
He believes that all livestock men
should have . few acres to fall back
ON when the average pasture parcn-
ed and dried up In the hot part OF
the summer.
IUSchsll Winter Psos
Mr.. George Mitchell. Goodman.
showed the group a crop of wild
winter peas he planted three years
go on q piece Of land that eros
ion has claimed. Each year a volun-
tary stand Of wild winter peas have
been produced better than the year
before, showing that the land Is be-
ING improved from year to year.
This crop can be utilized profitably
IN more ways than most any other
legume grown. They are excellent
for "a improving the soil, CD pro-
ducing cash seed crop. CD grazing
for livestock. ca hay. Farmers OF
the county have produced ~ high
a 1000 pounds OF seed per acre.
Most Of the wild winter pea seed
In the county has become mixed
With vetch and IL was explained
that In order 10 produce pure wild
winter pea seed, the farmer can
clip with a moving machine the
mixed growth. around the first OF
April and this clipping will kill the
vesch, but the wild winter peas win
come out and produce a good crop.
Another method that works TO some
extent Is when farmers Craze the
mixture heavily until April LIST and
then discontinue grazing and permit
the peas to produce seed.
wYnne's Pond
A stop was made at Mr.. II. III.
wynn's pond. two miles south OF
Goodman, where information was
given bv Mr.. r. r Trotman, AAA
administrator on how this farmer
was assisted in building his reser-
voir for livestock. Not only Is Mr.,
Wynne using II for water. but he
has secured fish from the Fish and
wildlife Service through the Soil
Conservation Service. which he re-
Gently placed In his pond. He Is
using fertilizer recommended by the
agricultural agents OF the county
and expects to have plenty OF fish
for himself and neighbors by this
time next year. Anyone wishing 10
catch fish in Mr.. Wynne's pond Is
advised 10 get in touch with him
first.