The journal. (Caldwell, Ohio) 1934-1961, 1950-07-27
WnsHInG GTOn
nEWs~<vIEWs
BY CONGRESSMAN
Bob Secrest

In the past twenty years con-
servation has made great strides
in the United States. Courses are
being taught in practically every
college and university and in
many high schools. Both rural
and city people realize that the
future prosperity and strength of
the country depends upon the de-
gree to which we conserve and
build our natural resources. / am.
especially interested in the con-
servation of soil in the 18th dis
trict and consider it one of the
important ways in which we can
increase our population and in
come.
In 1886 the federal government
started a nursery north of ZaneS-
vile in Muskingum county. The
government owns two hundred
and twelve acres of land and
lease about ninety acres. Results
in the past fourteen years have
been phenomenal. Over forty
five million trees have been de-
livered for farm planting. Over
ninety-nine per cent of the trees
were various types of pine. More
than one-half are used in Ohio;
the balance go to Michigan, In
diana, and Wisconsin. A few
other states get small numbers.
In addition to furnishing small
trees for planting, the nursery
has cooperated with the Ohio ag-
ricultural experiment station to
improve strains of grass and le-
gume seed. The annual produc-
tion of certified forage crop seed
has been about seven thousand
pounds. The object is to improve
forage crop seeds which can be
taken over by farm seed growers
who produce them on a CONNER
cial basis. Great accomplishments
have been made in the produc-
ton of Marietta timothy, Elsber-
ry bromegrass and evergreen
sweet clover. Both trees and
grass are essentials in the pro-
gram of soil conservation.
l spoke to the agricultural vet
eranS of MuSkingum county on
June 18th. The meeting was held
at the nursery and l had a chance
to view the excellent work that
is being done. | would like to
urge the people of my district to
make a visit to the nursery at
any opportunity. Tom Bradley
will be happy to show you
around.
The problem of conservation in
the final analysis will succeed
only by the efforts of individual
farmers. The Muskingum county
soil conservation district en-
braces all of Muskingum county
except incorporated cities, vii
lagos, and towns. The board of
supervisors consists of w. G..
Vandenbark, Foster Scott, Carl
Funk, Walter Studor and Fred
Mautz. At the close of 1949 there
were in force in this district two
hundred and fifty-four active
conservation plans covering an
area of more than thirty five
thousand acres. In addition to
these agreements now in force,
active applications amounted to
two hundred and nine, involving
another thirty six thousand
acres. During the year fifty farm
plans were developed covering
an area of more than six thou
sand, five hundred acres. Thru
the activities of the district sixty
seven farm ponds have been con-
structed, strip-cropping has been
applied to more than seven thou
sand acres, and pasture improve
ment has been accomplished on
more than four thousand, four
hundred acres. Field and gully |
planting totals more than four
teen hundred acres. During 1949
a record number of more than
three hundred and fifty-four