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About The Oregon statesman. (Salem, Or.) 1916-1980 | View Entire Issue (April 15, 1928)
5 Salem Is the Center of a District Devoted to Legumes Worth Millions Annually THE OREGON STATESMAN FARMING AND INDUSTRIAL MAGAZINE SECTION LEGUMES III ROTATION INCREASE THE YIELD OF THE OTHER FIELD CROPS BY ELEVEN TO THIRTY-THREE PER CENT " This Was Demonstrated by a Farm Survey Conducted by thei United States Department Polk Counties If All Farmers Realized That the Grow - ing of Legumes Would Do This, There Would Be a Sudden ta , , , o ,1 Demand for Legume Seed Says the Highest College Au-j inoruy ine i-icgume laxes izer element fro mthe Air and pensive Nutrient Editor Statesman: If all farmers realized that growing legumes in a rotation would increase the yield of the other field crops by 11 to 33 per cent, there would be a sudden de mand for legume seed. Yet that is exactly what a farm survey con- j ducted by the United States de- ! partment of agriculture in Marion and Polk counties showed. Farms which had 20 per cent of their acreage in clover produced from 11 to 33 per cent greater yield of wheat, oats, and potatoes than did the farms where no legumes were grown. There are more than 70 differ ent kinds or species of the botani cal order leguminosae in cultiva tion. They include among the clovers, vetches, lupines, beans, peas, beggar weeds, sainforn, al falfa, velvet bean, cowpeas. eer radella. and melilotus. While there are botanical means of dis tinguishing the family, a legume from the farmer's standpoint is any plant which has the power of taking nitrogen from the air for its own use and for storage in its roots. Strictly speaking, the plant itself does not have this power, but bacteria which are found in the nodules on legume roots take nitrogen from the air and change it to nitrates, which is the form ueed by plants. This process is known as nitrogen fixation. College Supplies Bacteria, On land that has never grown the particular legume before, in noculation is recommended. The purpose of inoculation is to sup ply the bacteria for nitrogen fixa tion. The bacteriology depart ment of the college supplies the cultures at cost with full directions for use. Each legume usually has a different bacterium, so the cul tures are not generally inter changeable. Nitrogen is an essential element In the crude protein of plants, in which form it is a valuable feed for animals. Very little nitrogen is found in the soil, the main source coming from decaying or- panic matters. If it were not for j legumes with their nitrogen-fixa- 1 tion much of the nitrates required j for crop growth would have to be . purchased and added to the soil. This essential element is built into the crude protein, the most im portant food constituent. The Most Expensive Nitrogeneous feeds and fertiliz ers are the most expensive, and both are supplied by legumes more cheaply than they can be obtained in any other way. By the use of leguminous crops the farmer can produce on his own land forages which approach in feeding value the various meals and oil cakes, and at the same time be growing a fertilizer crop that will supplant the expensive nitrate of soda, sul phate of ammonia, tankage, fish meal, or animal waste that must be purchased. While the nitrogen content of the soil ijk not actually increased V EVERY CROP Of Agriculture in Marion and ine mosi expensive rerwi- Builds It Into the Most Ex-1 unless the whole plant is plowed under or is fed to livestock and the manure returned to the soil, there is a storage of nitrates in the roots that becomes readily available to the crops which follow. It is this supply of nitrates that causes the Phenopenai increase in the yields of the crP3 that are grown later. Ad vantages of Iegnmes In addition to the outstanding feature mentioned above, legumes have several other good points to recommend them to the farmer. Such crops as clover, alfalfa, vetch, and field peas need only be mentioned for one to realise their importance as forage crops. Hay from these crops is twice as rich in protein as the hay from grasses, and this protein is obtained large ly from the air, while in the grass es it is all drawn from the fer tility of the soil. Leguminous crops yield larger crops of hay to the acre than grasses, hence the production of food materials on an acre, especially protein, is several times larger from the legumes. They furnish the cheapest food for stock and the cheapest manure for the soil. They do this because they obtain from the air a sub stance necessary for both plants and animals, which costs in the form of fertilizer and feeding stuffs from 15 to 25 cents a pound. Clovers and alfalfa, the most widely grown of the legumes, are noted as weed killers. They are especially effective in ridding a field of annual weed, such as mustards, which are so trouble some in grain fields. For this and other reasons, they are widely used in rotations with grain and cultivated crops. Another important feature is their deep root system which draws food from a greater depth than most plants do. When the plants die or are plowed under, the roots decay and leave chan nels through the soil which allow air and moisture to penetrate and improve the structure. The de caying roots add organic matter to the soil that is rich in potash and phosphates taken from the subsoil and nitrates taken rrom the air. Our Most Common Legumes The ciovers are the most wide- ly grown legume in western Ore gon. They are known as the best soil builders, but not quite so high in feed value as alfalfa. They are better adapted to the moist con ditions found in the Willamette valley than alfalfa. Clovers fur nish good summer pasture, a high quality hay, or a good seed crop. The United States imports large quantities of clover seed each year. With this demand the grow ing of clover seed will be of in creasing Importance in Oregon be lieves G. It. Hyslop. chief in farm crops at the Oregon Agricultural college. Red clover is the most widely grown member of the clover fam ily. It will grow on any well drained, fairly rich soil that has plenty of lime. On some of the aci d soils of the Willamette val- ROTATION SCHEME MUST ley an application of lime is ne-1 cessary to starf;the crop. After' the plants are well started they ; will take most of their nitrogen from the air. ; The most common method of seedinz red plover is nn winter , wheat, but it may also be sown in ' ! the spring with spring wheat or ! with rape or by itself. On win- ; ter wheat the sowing is usually1 done in February bo the rains can splash a little soil over the seed. The seed is broadcast with a hand . sder at the rate of 12 to i; Pun,ds . e acre Tnw gets af stand with the smallest amount of labor posaible since the seed is merelv scattered and no workine Qr the soil is necessary, a grain .! crop is produced while the clover i ia getting a start. The following year's crop, which is the first clo ver crop, is commonly cut for hay and the second crop used for seed, although both crops may be used for hay or occasionally in warm ir- rigated sections, both may be used for seed. Import Math Seed The United States Imported 10.- 604.4,00 pounds of clover seed in 1927. most of which came from France and England. The problem for Oregon, in order to get more of this trade, is to grow the va-, rieties that are needed in the east ern and southeastern states, whieh are the principal consuming areas. The east demauds a northern hairy-stemmed type that is more i a , ,1,0 vfoitar. ranean smooth-stemmed type that is grown here. The southeastern! states demand an anthracnose re- i sistant variety. Oregon has a start ! of both of these varieties. Many: parts oftbe state are well adap-1 ted to their production, the mar-1 ket demand is good, and the price is good. The present production in Ore gon is 20 to 60 cars a year, while the amount imported from other countries amounts to about 400 cars. The yield here is 200 to 350 pounds per acre, and the price varies from 15 to 4 0 cents a pound. Community interest and cooperation in cleaning and threshing machinery is needed. Communities which bu41d up a reputation for good seed in large quantities have a marketing ad vantage, because large buyers will come to them and bid competi - tively for their product. Further information regarding seed pro duction may be had by writing to the Oregon Agricultural college. The Alsike Clover Alsike. clover is adapted to higher altitudes, colder climates. more moisture, and sour soils where red clover w 11 not thrive Alsike is a perennial plant and win enaure ior many years euner as nay or pasture, seea is p i m duced early and volunteers and spreads rapidly. In feeding value and hay pro duction it is the equal of red clover. The problem in seed pro duction is to prevent inseparable mixtures such as white clover sor rel. The first crop is used for seed, as the second crop if any is usually short. Yields are a little heavier than red clover, and the price is about the same. Alsike has a tendency to shatter if al lowed to get too ripe. The Other Clovers Other clovers of lesser import ance are crimson, white, ladino and sweet. Crimson clover has brilliant red flowers. It is a pro fuse seeder, acid resistant and an annual plant. White clover is used for pasture, lawns, and seed pro-! dnction. It is difficult to handle ! the seed crop because of a lack of! suitable machinery, but the price Is 40 to 60 cents a pound. La- dino is closely related to white clover and Is used mostly as a pasture plant, although both hay : and seed are produced. Some i sweet clover Is grown for hay and pasture on alkali gTound. Difficulty In obtaining a stand of alfalfa has been a big problem in the Willamette valley. Alfalfa is united only to those soils that are mellow, warm, well drained. sweet and deep, and is not natur- ally adapted where the wet win- ters are common. in ine lrriga- ted regions alfalfa is the main croP- exceeding, both in quality and yield, any other forage plant. In spite of these natural han- dicaps, alfalfa is increasing rap- idi as a forage crop in western Oregon and has become an im- portant crop :n many sections where county agents have assis ted in getting the right variety properly established on suitable land. The object in sd bed prepara- tion is to have a fine. firm, moist condition so the small seeds will come in contact with the soil par ticles. A float is a good imple ment to level the ground, break up the clods, and firm the seed bed The seed bed is prepared as early as possible to allow for settling. and for light surface harrowings to kill vouns weeds. The field should he free from weeds, as the alfa'fa plants start slowly, owing to a heavy root growh the first season. 0n, (lrimm Ro,.ni,enlel ..,,.. . iety reccomended by the experi ment station. Certified seed is preferable as common seed has frequently been offered as Grimm. i and common alfalfa means any kinl that has lost its identity, The important thing in sowing: is to pet the seed distributed even-: ly and not covered too deep. The most common method is to broad-: cast the seed with a hand sower and cover either by harrowing lightly if the ground is firm or by rolling with a corrugated roller if the soil is loose, if a good drill is obtainable and the ground is firm, it may he drilled one inch deep. For this method 10 to 1 pounds per acre is sufficient, but for the broadcasting method 15 pounds are recommended. Nurse crop3 are not advisable, especially on unirrigated farms. The best time to sow in western Oregon is as soon as the weather warms enough for fairly prompt germination, which is usually from April 15 to May 15. although suc- I cegsful stands have been secured at a later date. Fall sowing is unsafe. The best condition is early sowing on clean land in good tilth. From 50 to 75 pounds of land plaster per acre previous to sowing lha caiiH fine Kaon fnnnrt t c piva ; tne g a bettpr start Aftpr ; they an? started t bloomi 8lajre un , crowding the ajfa.ja out. Clipping probably weakens the plants. The- Xches Vetch is the most important an nual legume in Oregon, with a yearly production of 15.000 to 45.-i neighbor of his, Geo. Dickenson, 000 acres. Vetch is suited to a I is planning on seeding ten acres moist, cool climate free from ex- ; also. Then, further, basing their treme of heat or cold during the j decision on past experience, W. O. growing season. Practically all Morrow, and S. H. Robison will vetch seed is grown in western ! put in about ten acres apiece, parts of Washington. Oregon and , These are but a few'ef the many California, with Oregon as the I Polk county farmers who are thor main producer. The climate here : oughly convinced of the success of with its mild winters is well adap- this crop. ted to vetch culture. The principal uses of the crop are hay and seed, but it is also used for soiling, silagp, pasture, green manure, cover (fops, and honey production. Value of the ! vetch hay crop in western Ore- son. ranges from $400,000 to; $500,000 a year, the seed crop j from $125,000 to $153,000 a year. ! and the other uses approximately ; $50,000 to $75,000 a year, The United States imported ; more than 3.000.000 pounds of j vetch seed in 1 9 27. This would! allow for a limited increase in pro- j i duction to supply the home de- j mand. Oregon vetch seed is sup- erlor to the imported seed in pur- TAKE IN THE LEGUMES j ity and winter hardiness. The most , common varieties aie Common, Hungarian. Purple. Hairy and Wooly Podded. Any pUnt wn,ch taReJS tne mo9t expensive fertilizer element from the air and builds it into more e pensive nutrients, and at the sain time produces a high yield itself and increases the yield of other crops to follow, deserves recog nition in any system of permanent agriculture both from the stand point of present and future prof its. RALPH WARD, forvallij. Or.. April 10. 1928. I Mr. Ward is connected with. the department of industrial jour- nalism of the Oregon Agricultural college. Ed POLK COUNTY LAND DEVOTED TO LEGUMES i CoDUDBd from pace 4) falfa was attempted on many oe- , cations, but its failure was proba- iiy one to lack of proper seea strains and proper soil prepara tions.. Orders have been pooled for a period of three years for the best seed strains in the country, and have been brought in and made wonderful growth on the farms where seeded. At the present time alfalfa srow-ers in Polk county to tha number of 100 are all preparing themselves for competition for a fine silver loving cup offered by the Dallas Chamber of Commerce for the best field of alfalfa oa July 1st. 1923. These 100 farm ers have established acreages ot alfalfa totaling something over 50o acres. These plantings vary in age from one to five years, and from past experience their yields have been running around tore to seven tons per acre. Some Alfalfa Growers Various demonstrations such aS ! the use of artificial culture, lime- rocks, cultivation and soil prep aration have resulted in a rather highly uniform set of fields. Some of the outstanding alfalfa fields in Polk county from the point of gen eral knowledge are those of Hugh Hanna. Independence; Pence Bros.. Rickreall; W. J. Garner, Dallas; W. O. Morrow, Green wood: Dick Clanfield, Ballstoa . and with several other prominent farmers joining the ranks within ! the last year or so. such as Gover ! nor I. L. Patterson, Eola. and Henry Keyt of Perrydale, and dozens of others in various porta of the county. ' Competing for Cnp Of noteworthy importance la the alfalfa acreages is the confi dence shown in the success of this crop by Ernest Zielesch of the Parker community, by making a new planting of about 50 acre this season, as the result of a small acreage seeded in 1926. 4 Through the county agent's of fice a complete set of elimination contests will be held In June to determine which fields are eligi ble to compete for the cup men ! tioned above, and final placement will be made on July 2nd. Because of the nature of the crop and our climatic conditions, sweet clover has never gained any particular headway, although, there are three or four planting! in Polk county, and the largest la about 25 acres on the Henry Keyt place at Perrydale. There is con siderable doubl about the advan tages of growing sweet clover ufr- ! der our farming conditions where 'Continued on 6