Full text of Agricultural News Letter : Vol. 7, No. 8

The full text on this page is automatically extracted from the file linked above and may contain errors and inconsistencies.

ricu
F E D E R A L

NEWS LETTER

R E S E R V E

Vol. 7, No. 8

B A N K

OF

D A L L A S

D ALLAS, T E X A S

August 15, 1952

Deep-Rooted Legumes Best
Despite the fact that lack of rainfall has
caused many legume seedings to fail during
the past two years, the wise farmer will con­
tinue to include a legume in his crop pro­
gram, Soil s p e c ia lis ts say that a legume
should be grown at least one year in three,
and more and more farmers are finding that
it is profitable to plant the deeper-rooted
perennial legumes and grasses.
Legumes that send their roots deep into
the subsoil are the most valuable in a soil-

improvement program, according to M. K.
Thornton, agricultural chemist for the Texas
Extension Service.
These legumes help break up the com­
pacted layer of soil frequently found at a
depth of 6 to 10 inches. This action opens up
the land to permit better drainage and aera­
tion. Moreover, the penetration by the roots
permits the soil to absorb rainfall faster and
thus reduces the amount of runoff.

AVERAGE ROOT PENETRATION OF SELECTED LEGUMES
DEPTH OF
ROOT PENETRATION
(INCHES)

AUSTRIAN
WINTER
PEAS

HAIRY
VETCH

HUBAM
CLOVER

MADRID
CLOVER

SOURCE: Soil Conservation Service, Fort Worth, Texas.

EVERGREEN
CLOVER

CRIMSON
CLOVER

ALFALFA

2

A G R IC U L T U R A L N E W S L E T T E R

All legumes are valuable s o il-b u ild in g
crops, but the deep-rooted plants are the most
effective, says Mr. Thornton. Alfalfa ranks
highest as a soil conditioner because it is a
perennial and its large roots grow deep into
the subsoil. E v e r g r e e n and Madrid sweet
clovers also are good legumes for soil im­
provement. They are especially valuable in
the Blacklands of Texas, where root rot
attacks alfalfa and prevents its most effec­
tive use. Because these clovers grow for two
years, they are more valuable as soil builders
than the annual legumes, such as vetch and
winter peas.
N evertheless, the annual legum es are
a profitable addition to the farm program.
While their roots do not penetrate as deeply
as the longer-growing plants, they do add
organic matter to the soil and provide better
aeration of the top 6 or 8 inches.

will lead to more profits, if both take an in­
terest in the operation of the farm or ranch.
About 30 percent of all farms in the South­
west still are operated by tenants, and lack
of landlord-tenant cooperation is a bottleneck
to progress on many of these farms.
C. H. Bates, farm management specialist
for the Texas Extension Service, offers sev ­
eral suggestions for improving the working
relationship between the owner of the land
and the operator. The first important step is
the recognition by both men that a coopera­
tive program will be much more successful
than one dictated by either of the parties.
After the landlord and tenant have discussed
the kind of program they wish to put into
effect on the farm, Mr. Bates says that the
rental agreement should:
♦ Be prepared in writing,
♦ Cover more than one year,

In addition to their value as a soil builder,
winter legumes, such as vetch, Austrian winter
peas, and clovers — hubam, evergreen, M a­
drid, and crimson — provide high-quality pas­
turage for livestock during the fall and winter
months. These crops can be used to stretch
the feed supply and to reduce the cost of
purchased feed.
Instead of losing weight, which usually oc­
curs when beef cattle are forced to graze on
old pastures or range land during the winter
months, cattle may gain as much as 200 to
300 pounds during the fall and winter months
when grazed on a good legume pasture.
Selecting the legume adapted to the soil
and climate of the farm and using an ade­
quate amount of the proper fertilizer are
essential parts of a successful legume program.
County agricultural agents, seed dealers, vo­
cational agricultural teachers, and other agri­
cultural specialists in every community can
furnish information on the varieties and fer­
tilizers best adapted to their area.

Partners in Progress
The tenant and landlord can become “part­
ners in progress” and develop a program that

♦ Specify the division of expenses and in­
come,
♦ Encourage the tenant to produce livestock,
and
♦ Provide for permanent improvements on
the land and homestead.

General-Purpose Sprayer
Developed
A versatile spray unit that can be adapted
to the application of many kinds of spray m a ­
terials has been developed by the T exas
Lower R io Grande Valley Experiment S ta­
tion.
The machine is designed primarily for R io
Grande Valley farms, where a wide variety
of insecticides and other sprays is applied.
The unit is economical to build and sim ple
to operate. The nozzle arrangement can be
changed to apply the spray at the desired
point, and the entire unit can be mounted, or
removed from the tractor in less than 5 m in ­
utes.
Blueprints of this sprayer may be obtained
from the Texas Agricultural Experiment S ta ­
tion, College Station, Texas.

A G R IC U L T U R A L N E W S L E T T E R

Increasing the Value of Silage
Corn, sorghums, grass, and other materials
that are to be used for silage should be har­
vested and placed in the silo while the ma­
terial is still green enough to pack, according
to R. E. Burleson, Texas Extension dairy hus­
bandman.
This means that crops which begin to dry
out and “burn” because of drought should be
placed in the silo immediately, rather than
waiting for the grain crop to mature. If the
material is too dry to pack, water should be
added.
When weather permits normal harvesting
of the silage crop, Mr. Burleson says to har­
vest corn when it is just past the roasting-ear
stage, sorghums when they are in the softdough stage, sudan and other grasses just be­
fore they bloom, and legumes in the early
bloom stage.
Mr. Burleson urges farmers to check their
silos before starting to fill them, in order to
reduce loss of feed during the storage period.
Walls of trench silos should be smooth, and
the trench must have adequate drainage. In
box-type silos the walls and braces should be
strong enough to withstand the pressure of
the silage material as it settles. Silage paper
can be purchased to line the inside walls of
these silos, in order to make them air-tight.
Thorough packing and maintaining enough
moisture to keep the material from becoming
spongy as it is packed are two essentials for
storing high-quality silage.

Many Chickens Go Thirsty
Lack of water — the cheapest item on the
menu — frequently is a bottleneck to egg and
poultry meat production, according to E. D.
Parnell, professor of poultry husbandry at
Texas A. 85 M. College.

3

Water usually is plenti­
ful on most farms, but Mr.
Parnell points out that in
visiting many poultrymen
in Texas he has noted that
insufficient water — espe­
cially during the hot sum­
mer months — frequently
is retarding full production from the flock.

Mr. Parnell points out that waterers should
be placed at convenient locations, since chick­
ens may go thirsty rather than walk more
than 10 feet for water. Thus, it is best to
have several small waterers well distributed
through the poultry house.

Whenever medicine is given to the flock
in the drinking water, Mr. Parnell urges that
the poultryman watch carefully for any de­
cline in the amount of water consumed. If
the birds quit drinking, another method of
giving the medicine should be obtained, and
fresh, clean water should be placed in the
waterers.

“ Air Sac” Colds in Chickens
The latest disease to plague the poultryman is a chronic respiratory disease — com­
monly known as air sac cold. The disease also
is called infectious sinusitis, Rhode Island
Infection, or Delaplane Disease.
L. C. Grumbles, poultry pathologist for
Texas A. 85 M. College, says the disease may
remain in the flock for weeks or months. The
symptoms are similar to Newcastle Disease
and infectious bronchitis. The birds cough,
sneeze, rattle, and have a nasal discharge. The
eyes may look inflammed and have a watery
discharge.
As a result of air sac colds, broilers may
lose weight, and death occurs occasionally. In
laying hens, death seldom occurs, but a drop
of 20 to 40 percent in egg production may be
noticed.

4

A G R IC U L T U R A L N E W S L E T T E R

Experiments have shown that the disease
is spread by close association of the birds in
the same room. The best control for the
broiler producer is to keep only one age of
birds at a time. Pullets being grown for re­
placements to the laying flock should be kept
away from other birds on the farm. These
precautions must be taken for both chickens
and turkeys.
Mr. Grumbles says that at this time the
only remedy for air sac disease is a program
of sound management and thorough sanita­
tion.

Burning Does Not Control Insects
Many farmers continue to burn over fence
rows, pastures, and woodlands in the belief
that the fire will kill large numbers of insects.
Dr. H. G. Johnston, entomologist at Texas
A. & M. College, says this practice is not only
ineffective in controlling insects but also re­
sults in a substantial loss of organic matter
that should be returned to the soil. He says
that the practice has no effect on bollworms,
leafworms, thrips, and lice and that the No. 1
cotton insect — the boll weevil — spends the
winter in areas that are not affected by burn­
ing.
Dr. Johnston urges farmers to destroy crop
residue, especially old cotton stalks, plowing
them under immediatley after harvest. He
also points out that when the boll weevil is
in the field it is at the mercy of the farmer
who follows a vigorous cleanup campaign.
Sprays and insecticides, of course, will give
control during the growing season.

Millions Lost by Livestockmen
Over half a billion dollars is lost in the
Nation annually by livestock producers who
fail to control livestock pests, such as flies,
ticks, lice, and screwworms.
Animals that are annoyed by these pests
make inefficient use of feed and become gen­
erally unthrifty. Insects keep pastured ani­
mals from consuming sufficient feed to make

maximum use of the relatively inexpensive
roughage produced by grasses and legumes.
Cattle grubs not only reduce output of b eef
and milk but also cause considerable damage
to hides, reducing the sale value of the ani­
mals.
Most of these losses can be reduced or
eliminated, according to Louisiana State U n i­
versity specialists. They point out that in di­
vidual farmers can protect their livestock
through proper use of insecticides and th or­
ough cleanup campaigns. However, com m u ­
nity action is even more effective in eradicat­
ing these pests. When every farmer in the
community participates in the program, it
frequently is possible to eliminate the insects
completely, and a community-wide program
always reduces materially the danger of re ­
infestation.
Livestock producers may obtain detailed
information on the control of these pests from
their county agricultural agents, entom olo­
gists, veterinarians, and others.

A snake-proof fence can be constructed b y
using hardware cloth. The material should
extend 6 inches in the ground and about 30
inches above the ground.

Publications
New M exico Agricultural Experiment S ta­
tion, State College:
Drawings of Ranch Equipment, Circular
210.
Oklahoma Agricultural Experiment Station,
Stillwater:
Dwarf Kafir 44-14 and Redlan — Two N ew
Combine-type Grain Sorghums, Bulletin
No. B-384, by Frank F. Davies and Joh n
B. Sieglinger.
Feeding and Breeding Tests with Sheep,
Swine, and B eef Cattle, Progress R e p o rt:
1951-52.

Agricultural News Letter

The
is prepared in
the Research Department under the direction
of C arl H . M oore, Agricultural Economist.