Milford chronicle., 1963-03-29
Hiqh Plains Research
Foundation News

Flame cultivation, whose po-
tential as an agricultural tool
has ranged between hot and cold
for almost 20 years, received
important new support today with
the announcement that the High
Plains Research Foundation will
expand its already intensive ac-
tivitieS In this area.
Earl H. Collister, foundation
director, revealed the organiza-
tion's plans during a presentation
ceremony in which new Bumpus
Hi-Trac flame cultivator was
donated to the foundation by Gene
Bumpus, Inc, Of Plainview, and
the Stewart Company of Dallas,
distributor for Ford Motor Co.
farm and industrial tractors and
equipment. Ford provides tractor
power plants for the Hi-Trac.
Said Collister, "For the last
three years the foundation has
carried out the most extensive
research In flame cultivation and
we will increase our activity
this year. We feel that the major
block to national acceptance of
flame cultivation by American
farmers has been the lack of
sustained research program.
"This added support by Ford
and Bumpus IS a major step
toward our goal of providing
this program. We are confident
that flame cultivation will, with
in about five years, be a revolu-
tionary new tool for farmers
throughout the country"
Citing some Of the present
successes Of foundation work in
the Rio Grande Valley and Hale
county, he said hand hoeing, which
can require hundreds of men,
has been eliminated. One man
hoes about an acre a day, he
said, while one flame cultivator
can be reasonably expected to
rid the weeds from so to 60
acres in the same time.
1--WE know Of instances where
cabbage farmers pay $50 per
acre to have their weeds hand
hoed. A flame cultivator could |
cut that cost In half" he said.
Flame cultivation does not dis
turb the soil, he pointed out,
and thus prevents evaporation of
and nitrogen. There is
no danger Of damaging the crop
by cutting its roots, as in hand
or sweep cultivation.
A recent finding being ex-
he said, is that disease
IS curbed in crops which are
flame cultivated. The foundation
has not yet determined the exact
reason for this, but theories
hat the rapid and complete de-
struction of weeds by flame pre-
vents them from interfering with
he crop roots or serving as
disease carriers.
The major problem in flame
is the possibility of
iamage to the crop. However, this
S being overcome by control /
systems which allow the flame
areas to be tailored to any Of
several desirable sizes, depend
ng upon the crop.
The foundation, he said, has
oeen successful with all types of
crops and is attracting
4 great deal Of interest in the
:orn belt because of this.
William r. Taylor, vice presi-
lent-g eneral manager OF
3umpus, and Peter Stewart,
president of the Stewart Com
oany, said, "Our businesses are
based on serving agriculture. We
lave a responsibility to assist In
such promising research. Today .
here are probably fewer than
| 900 flame cultivators in use In
his country, but we feel that this
research will result in creating
/ national market for them."
The ultimate result of wide
spread flame cultivation, added
1ollister, will be reduction in
he farmers cost Of production,
and this could be reflected In
he price of food.
Also attending the ceremony
vas Frank Conover of Ford's
rractor & Imnlament OnerationS