Evening star., 1947-08-31
Loss of Fertility
In Farm Soils
Is IsLively Issue
By jones BirehfieId

BY jones BirehfieId
That the American farmer has
not yet solved the problem of de-
pleted soil fertility has been empha-
sized by Chairman Hope of the
House Agriculture Committee.
Speaking last week at the annual
Institute of Cooperation at Fort
Collins, Colo, Mr.. Hope classified
soil conservation as one of the most
important programs facing future
agriculture.
Accompanying this statement
with facts, Chairman Hope pointed
out that at present there are 8
acres of cropland for every person
in this country. However, he
warned, rising population accom-
panied by the present high rate of
soil erosion speaks i'll for the future
unless immediate steps are taken
to stop soil waste.
A warning of more immediate
danger also comes from the West.
Meeting at Fort Collins early this
month, the Great Plains Agricul-
tural Council, composed of State
and Federal agricultural officials,
issued a gloomy report on the
gigantic wheat harvest. It Is the
opinion of the council that the
suitcase farmers who have
stormed the wheat States gambling
on another year of good prices, have
put so much grassland under plow
that another dust bowl threatens.
All Set for Big Blow.
Here, according to the council,
is what has happened in the Great
Plains States during the last year:
A year ago about 7.2 million acres
we're in condition to blow. Since
then this figure has increased to 81
million acres. BY July l Of this
year 1885 900 acres Of grassland
had been plowed, compared with
$4,000 acres last year and 667 900
acres the year before.
Furthermore, in the last year the
number of acres of cropland plowed
on the contour had dropped from
SO million acres to 81 million
acres: the number of acres summer
fallowed dropped from 10.6 million
in 1945 to 8,739 900 for the 1948
wheat crop, and the number OF acres
terraced to guard against washing
and blowing had dropped from "A
million to SO million acres.
II the plow-up continues un-
abated, agricultural leaders warn,
the spectre of dust and famine may
again stalk the West.
Livestock Show Planned.
MARYLAND breeders are making
plans as the fall approaches for the
annual livestock show at Baltimore.
The old Baltimore Livestock Show
will be known this year by another
name-the Eastern National Live
stock Show, Inc, and will be held
at Timonium the week Of November
II. This will allow breeders week
to move to Chicago for the inter-
national show.
The new show will have classes
for fat hogs, lambs and steers, and
in addition will feature classes for
breeding animals In the three beef
breeds-Hereford, Angus and Short
horn.
Heading the new organization is
r. C. Riggs of Catonsville. Other
officers include w. Allan McGregor,
Worton, vice president: J. w. Shir-
lev. jr., Reisterstown, manager; H.
j. Moehlmap, Baltimore, treasurer,
and J. M. Vial, University of Mary
land, secretary.
The new classes in breeding ami
mails are being hailed by MARYLAND
stockmen, who point to the increase
Of purebred stocks in the State For
example, it is estimated that Mary
land now has $4,000 head of pure
bred beef cattle, about double the
number in the State in 1910. In
addition there are about 100000
head of swine and about $4,000 head
OF sheep.
New Animal Husbandman.
Maryland's increasing interest In
livestock breeding naturally has
focused more attention on the ami
NAL husbandry department at the
University of Maryland, and stock
men throughout the State soon will
get to know Dr. John e. Foster, who
recently became head OF that de-
partment.
DR.. Foster was born and reared
on an 800-acre farm in Jefferson
County, N. c., a bluegrass section
that borders on the southwestern
tip of Virginia. He can be counted
on to know at first hand the prob
lens OF the livestock farmer.
He Is not a bad judge Of livestock,
either, as this story will show.
Once, while attending the Smyth
County fair at Marion, Va, friend
asked for DR.. Fosters help in show
ing sheep. The lamb that DR.. Fos-
ter selected won the purple cham
pionship ribbon and was later
bought for the herd at North Caro-
lima State College.
DR.. Foster comes to Maryland
from the animal husbandry de-
partment at North Carolina State,
where he took his undergraduate
work. He took his masters degree
at Kansas State Agricultural Col
lege, and his Phi. D. degree at Cor
nell.
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