Evening star., 1955-02-20

from the sand blasted Great Plains
whose only means of support had
swirled into the skies in angry
streamers of bitter black. took to
the road as migrant farm labor.
They became the Oakies and the.
Arkies, subjects of controversy and
contempt for some. Of pity and
consideration and reform for others.
Not until the burgeoning Of defense
industry following the onset Of war
in Europe in 1889 did the economic
and social dislocationS attending
this wind-blown exodus diminish
in seriousness.
The cities Of the Eastern sea-
board and even ships at sea came
to know the "black rollers" as the
sun was curtained in a deep haze at
midday by the precious topsoil OF
the Plains The Federal Govern
ment took special notice. and steps
were taken to alleviate the miseries
of the region. But there Is no cure
for blowing land once 1t has begun
to go except drenching rains over
an extended period. Starving cattle
were bought up in the region and
relief rolls made available to the
most needy. but beyond that there
was little that could be done save
making a belated beginning on
soil conservation program. At least
the future might be provided against.
Under the direction of the Soil
Conservation Service and other
agencies of the Agriculture Depart
ment, belts of trees were planted
at strategic locations throughout
the Great Plains, to serve as wind
breaks where fields were most un-
protected. County agents began a
determined campaign among farm
ers to encourage the use of contour
and lister blowing to reduce erosion.
Strip farming was taught-the
planting of alternate crops in strips.
one providing good cover between
two less likely to hold the shifting
soil.
Cover Needed
Conservation experts stressed the
basic facts. They pointed. to the
history of the region. and reminded
the farmers that drought alone did
not make a dust storm. The soil
would blow only when it was both
dry and devoid of some natural
cover.
But provision had to be made to
cover when the soil still held suffi-
cient moisture. Not even weeds can
be grown when the drought has al
ready drained the land. So the
emphasis was on constant cover
grass crop, or sorghum cane on
badly blown soil, or at the very
least the leaving Of crop stubble to
hold the land with its roots until
new crop could be made. Rotary
rod weeders and similar shallow
cultivating machinery was intro
duced, and tillage encouraged which
would mix the previous crop residues
with the soil to build up the organic
content.
That the efforts of the conserva-
tionists have been successful in
many areas is attested by the pres
ent appearance of much of the for
mer heart Of the Dust Bowl.
The Future
But the success has not been wide
spread enough to be cause for COM
placency-far from it. Some soil
experts are pessimistic to the point
of predicting a greater dust disaster
this year, or next, than the debacle
of the 30s. Others are more hope
full
Yet the 'right" conditions for
blowing do exist today on a scale
probably larger than prevailed in
the 30s. Despite the vigorous efforts
of all concerned with the threat of
another dust bowl, one-crop econ
omy still persists on the Plains and
the renewed huge market for wheat
and cotton during and after World
War II brought about repetition
of the great plow-up of the earlier
years. Even the suitcase farmers
reappeared. this time more inter-
ested in cattle raising for the SOAR
ing prices of beef than in wheat, but
nonetheless unconcerned with the
future of the lifeblood land and
willing to overgraze the exhausted
range.
The land that blew in the 30s will
blow even sooner this time, for
it has had too short a time for re-
covery.
And when the conditions are Just
right" when the prolonged drought
Of several years Is combined with
stronger winds before the new crop
has grown enough to provide cover.
the land will blow.