The frontiersman., 1953-09-03

terDeItS and WlndbreakS addition making lite pleasant around farm buildings also reduces wind veloces the ground We know that crop rotation helps build soil and adds organic matter the soil and that organ additions continuing need to maintain soils in fertile and stable condition.
 We know that each combination of soil and slope has a limited capabity for Some be used indefinitely only precautions, Some need with normal good farming practices, require to prevent their destruction while hers only stand sonal cultivation and still athers that should be cult vated These later useful for grass and timber produc ion Then there of steep mountain where the Dahl sheep and mountain goats make their home and where the and caribou spend the sumner months
 Each class land has use and each kind of use fits in with the needs of and when put this provides stable continuing and highly desirable valley in which live
 The stable classes be used safely major part of the time grow all types of cmatcaly adapted vegetable crops The less stable classes adapted hay and ct vated needed for cattle and sheep The unstable can produce good and timber The wild perpeuate the wild game and feed the and lakes, thereby providing the natural habitat for fish,
 Each class of land has safe capacity and each provides for of the needs of
 These of the things that earlier settlers did not know consider important.
 The soils of the valley been classified as to capa bity by the Soil Conservation Service and this information available to farmers of the valley.
 The settler in Alaska has infinite advantages lsts, who determine the needs of the soil and plants for daptabity Breeds of livestock and their feeding needs and also suitable kinds of buildings determined This used to be trial and procedure, with each farmer finding things for himself Here the Agricultural Research Ad mnstraton gets the these and many other ques "A is located in the valley
 Farm information used to pass from farmer farmer and sometimes take to travel relatively short distance Here we have the Agricultural Extension Service to carry information throughout the valley and the Territory that matter of short time any material available all farmers. We have Extension agent serving farmers of the valley
 Soil Conservation Districts have been organized most of the important farming including the Palmer, Wasa and Chugiak Districts in the Matanuska Valley
 These districts headed farmer Supervisors elected n he of he Supervisors with assistance of specialists from Federal and Territorial Agricultural Agencies have developed program and plan of approach the solution of problems of the val ley They are now engaged Ill carrying out these plans for permanent protection of farm land and the water supply which are equally necessary to our prosperity and we'll being
 The problems of wind erosion and supply individual farm problems, but rather community or group problems which only be solved by the group.
 One individual may clear all vegetation from 40 to 80 acres with no appreciabe damage resulting second and third adjoining him. may do the thing and the result is damage from wind erosion.
 One small swamp may be drained with benefit to the individual but when this is multiplied many times this source of ground is effected and the habitat of migratory water fowls IS destroyed.
 We know by the experience Of other all over America that these things have happened and they happen
 Millions of dollars are being spent all America reesabsh forests lakes and swaps to renew the natural balance.
 Group planning and cooperation in the Matanuska Val ley elsewhere in Alaska prevent the original destruc on The plans have been developed and the will to accom- ph sound development Of valley is much in evidence among our people
 The districts propose complete study of ground water ouce supply and purity before recommending drainage irrigation They propose study of the effect of cold water and increases in yield of crops from irrigation before eco1- mendng large scale irrigation pro- ects.
 Studies have been initiated land clearing to determine the best methods of clearing organic matter and the greatest utilization of timber.
 Due to the slow growth of timber the district recorl- mends that sheerbes be left between fields rather than planting wndbreaks These seebets should be protected from grazing and from fire. Reinforcement planngs tc thcken the natural stand should be made.
 Fall blowing very dangerous in the Matanuska Valley
 Grain stubbe holds snow and soil At least six inches of stubbe should be left standing during the winter and a corporaed into the surface soil in the spring.
 Crop rotations increase yields maintain good so con-