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About Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989 | View Entire Issue (April 15, 1956)
FOURTEEN MEDFORD (OREGON) MAIL TRIBUNE Sunday, April IS, 1918 oil Testing lesullts in logger, letter .Farm" (Harvests Guesswork Farming Diminishing With Sampling Program The days of farming by guess work are steadily diminismng according to W. B. Tucker, Jack son county agricultural exten sion a sent. More and more Oregon farm ers are reaping bigger and bet ter harvests as the result of the Oreeon State college soil test ing service, he says. Under this nrnffram. a farmer submits a cross-section sample of his soil for analysis in the college labo ratories. After tests have been comDleted. the farmer receives a report telling the quantities of chemicals the soil contains ana nointine out which ones are needed in greater or smaller amounts in order to more abund antly produce a particular crop Neutral Soil Soil with a hydrogen ion con centration (pH) of 6.5 to" 7.0 is considered neutral. Tucker says Anv dH reading below 7 indi cates acid, while any reading above pH7 indicates alkaline soil. For practical purposes, a re action between 6.5 and 7.5 is rnnsidpreri suitable for most crops, he explained. After the soil is neutralized, it. is rorrected bv further ferti- lization to accommodate specific crops. Selecting the right amounts of the proper fertilizers is, how ever, a matter requiring consid erable knowledge, Tucker point ed out. Too much or too little of a particular chemical can result in poor or improper yields and even, in some cases, costly crop failures. Rely on Guesswork Before the advent of the OSC testing program in 1932, farm ers were forced to rely largely on guesswork in their attempts to improve their soil by fertiliz er application. Finally, a makeshift testing laboratory was established in the Jackson county agent's office. "It was operated for several years," Tucker said, "but our facilities were inadequate and only 10 to 20 soil samples were submitted each year." In December, 1952, a complete soil testing laboratory operated by skilled personel was estab lished at Oregon State college. "The OSC testing service is making rapid gains in popular ity," the county agent said, "And in the last IVi years, 150 Jack son county farm operators sub mitted samples from 323 fields representing 5,117 acres." Sample Reports PH reports on these Jackson county samples showed that of the total acreage represented, 3 per cent was below 5.5, seven ner cent between 5.5 and 5.7, twenty-one per cent between 5.8 and 6.0. fifty-five per cent De tween 6.1 and 6.5 and 14 per cent over 6.5. One-half ton of lime per acre was recommended for 9 per cent of the acreage represented; 1 lVi tons per acre for 54 per cent; 2-2 Vi tons per acre for 1 per cent; more than 3 tons per acre for 1 per cent and no lime was recommended for 35 per cent. Reports also showed 16 per cent of the total acreage was low in phosporus; 31 per cent medium; 41 per cent high and 12 per cent very high. Potash Content In potash content, 10 per cent was low, 22 per cent medium, 53 per cent high and 15 per cent very high. To illustrate the value of soil testing. Tucker told the story of one Jackson county farm opera tor whose marion bluegrass pro duction was increased from 500 to 840 pounds per acre as a di rect result of having his soil i Constipation now gone gs-" 3 "for 15 rears I took laxalire drugs daily. Then I tried All-Bran. It did the trick for me," writes Mr. S. L. Leaman, Greenwood, S. C. For over 40 years good-tasting Kellofg's All-Bran has been help ing folks overcome constipation by restoring the good food bulk we need daily for natural regu larity. Unlike laxative drugs (that ordinarily do not contain bulk), Ail-Bran corrects a com mon cause of irregularity lack of bulk. Try All-Bran, a bowl a day. for 10 days. If not abso lutely satisfied, return the empty carton and getdoubleycurmoney back. Kellogg's the original reaoy-to-eat bran. Delicious! Best liked by million. If JZ&fc 7 ' 1 : APPLYING FERTILIZER After soil sam ples have been analyzed and recommenda tions made, the next step is applying the fer tilizer. Here John Niedermeyer applies 300 pounds per acre of complete fertilizer consist ing of nitrogen and phosphorous. The mix mre, commonly known as 16-20-0, will supply the ground with 48 pounds of actual nitrogen and 60 pounds of phosphorous per acre. - -A ; 'Tf Xkni I SAMPLING THE SOIL John Niedermeyer, who farms about 200 acres between Medford and Jacksonville on Old Stage rd., uses the soil auger to extract a soil sample. Samples should be taken six or eight inches below the surface of the soil. The earth sam ples are then placed in a clean bucket, thoroughly mixed, dried and placed in the sample carton shown at left of bucket. The carton is then packed and sent to the soil testing laboratories at Oregon State college. tested. Otto Bohnert, who operates about 15 farming enterprises on 200 acres of land northwest of Central Point, became concern ed over erratic yields on his land over a period of several years. Change in Yields Varying amounts of fertilizer, applied by sheer guesswork, re sulted in no particular change in his yields. Finally, he took samples of soil in 13 of his fields and sent thme to OSC for analy sis. Laboratory reports showed his lowest soil pH was 4.9 and the highest was 5.9. Application of lime in amounts varying from 1,000 to 3,000 pounds was rec ommended. He followed the recommenda tion and 12 months later, less than the average time required for soil to react from one appli cation, resampled the same soil. Tests on these samples showed the lowest pH was 5.1 and the highest was 6.3. Produc tion that year was the highest Bohnert had ever obtained and his expenditure for commercial fertilizer was the lowest in sev eral years. Realizes Saving - Another farmer, John N. Win ton, realized a saving of 5456 one year by making use of the soil testing service, Tucker said. Winton, who operates a farm near Agate rd., north of Med ford, had tentatively ordered about 300 pounds per acre of super phosphate for 150 acres of forage crop land. Cost of the fer tilizer would have been about made only about once every 10 years. If the same crop is raised from year to year, tests should be more frequent. This is because different crops use varying amounts of certain soil chemicals or plant food elements. It is pos sible to preserve these chemi cals in the soil over a period of several years by alternating the crops which have varying chem ical requirement. Cost Varies Cost of the soil tests varies ac cording to type. In western and southern Oregon the fee for the standard soil test, which deter mines . soil reaction (pH), lime requirement and available phos phate, potash and calcium, is S2.50 per sample. The lime re quirement and phosphate test, which determines pH, lime re quirement and available phos phate, is S1.50 sample. Extra tests, which are made upon re quest, include organic matter, SI per sample, and boron, SI per sample. The OSC laboratory operates on a non-profit basis, Tucker explained, and the fees are for equipment and'materials used in the tests. A new soil testing service was announced this week by. Dan S38 per ton. Before delivery, he took four soil samples over 80 acres of his land and had them analyzed at OSC. Testers reports showed his soil was neutral and needed only nitrogen. Needless to say, he promptly cancelled his S456 super phosphate order. Cost of the soil analysis was S10. If a good crop rotation plan is established, Tucker explained, it j is necessary to have soil tests I Evans, soil scientist in charge of the soil physics laboratory at Oregon State college. The new service will measure two physical qualities of soil the approximate amount of wa ter the soil will hold one day after a heavy rain or complete irrigation, and the amount of water still in the soil when the plants wilt from lack of avail able moisture. Amounts of Water The amount of water in the soil between these two measure ments is the amount the soil can And, since soils vary greatly in usable water-holding capacity, the measurements will help soils specialists and county agents make recommendations for more efficient irrigation water and commercial fertilizer applica tions. Cost of the new service is $2 per sample. In order to obtain accurate re ports on the soil tests, it is im perative that the soil be sampled in the proper manner, Tucker emphasized. A farmer may use a spade, garden trowel or soil augur to take soil samples. Soils that are distinctly different as to type or m appearance, crop growth, or past treatment should be sam pled separately. Not more than 10 to 20 acres should be repre sented in one sample. ; V-Shaped Hole The farmer must first cut a V-shaped hole in the earth seven inches deep to take a thin slice from one side. This slice is put into a clean bucket. If a soil augur is used, the whole core is placed in the bucket. This pro cedure is repeated at least 15 times in each field sampled. After the sample soil has been completely dried at room tem perature it is thoroughly mixed. Sample cartons, provided by the college and available at the county agent's office, are then filled with the mixed, dry earth. Before sending the carton to the laboratory, the farmer writes on it his name and address, whether the sample is topsoil or subsoil, field name or num ber. He then wraps the carton securely and ships it to the col lege. Sending Sample In addition to sending the soil sample, the farmer must also fill out a special information sheet and mail it to the laboratory. On this sheet the farmer indi cates the -location of the fields, size of area sampled, soil type, position of the land (bottom, ter race or upland) whether subsoil is coarse, light, medium or heavy and depth to subsoil, whether a slope is level, rolling or hilly, type of drainage, wheth er not the land is irrigated, type of analysis desired, crop and fer tilizer history for the past three years and crops he intends to grow for the next thre years. He also draws a sketch of the farm or fields from which sam ples were taken, showing loca tion of samples, eroded areas, poorly drained areas, drainage and any other pertinent infor mation. "Collecting soil samples and having them analyzed has end ed " many mysteries as to why certain land in this area hasn't been producing adequately," Tucker said. Experiment Underway An experiment is currently under way in Jackson county in volving one particular acreage that has been unproductive since it was cleared 40 years ago. This land is owned by Glenn Birds- Spring Roundup of Shrine Club Set The annual spring roundup and crab feed of the Jackson County Shrine club will be held at the Rogue Valley Country club Mon day evening, according to A. K. Morse, club president. Bill Schei is chairman of the committee in charge. He said some 50 persons, members of the club and their wives, are epected to attend. The theme of the event will be western, and many members plan to wear western dress. Entertainment will be fur nished during and after dinner by the Rhythmaires, one of the northwest's best-known quartets. Music for dancing after dinner will be provided by the Melody Wranglers. George Gauldager, Eugene, Shrine potentate, and members of his divan and their wives, will attend the annual event, which is one of the Shrine club's social functions of the year. RYTHMAIRES The Rythmaires quartet, above, will furnish en tertainment at the Jackson County Shrine club's annual spring roundup and crab feed The group has had singing en gagements in all parts of the west. From top to bottom, they are Ralph H. Shumn, lead; Wil liam Wright, baritone; George Horner, bass, and A. C. Hing ston, tenor. Seed Growers Vole To Form Commission Ladino clover ernwprs nvcr. whelmingly approved the forma tion of a ladino clover commis sion, J. F. Short, director of the state department of agriculture has announced following a count of votes cast in last week's ref erendum. Over 95 per cent of Oregon's production of ladino clover seed is in Jefferson county with Jack son county accounting for most of the remainder. Forty-eight of the 54 growers eliaible to vote cast ballots in favor of the commission. They represented nearly half of the state's ladino production last year and a 90 per cent affirma- tivp vntf. Under the law, two-thirds of the voters had to vote yes, ac-mi-dine to Paul T. Rowell. mar ket development chief who was in pharpp. Much of the Jefferson county acreage suffered heavy winter frpp7p HamasA. and as a result, iflSfi "reduction is expected to be substantially lower than last year. NW Power Program Making Progress Spokane U.R) The federal power program in the Pacific Northwest has made some prog ress, but not enough, members of the Northwest Public Power Association were told here Fri day. Alex Radin,. general manager of the American Public Power association, said funds were be ing appropriated to begin con struction of Ice Harbor danrsand added that planning was pro ceeding on the John Day project, but not at the optimum pace which should be provided. Radin said there was still hope that a high federal dam would be built at the Hells Canyon site on the Snake river despite the fact the Federal Power commis sion has issued a license to Idaho Power' company to build three low dams in Hells canyon. He pointed out that the case was still before the courts. The power association's three day meeting was to end Saturday. r Jit, - . ,U;1' " ? Mi - .Jy-w - FESTIVAL FINALISTS Six Pear Blossom festival queen final ists (above) have been selected on the basis of ballots cast last week. Chosen were (front, left to right) Barbara Urie, 5, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Urie, 330 Hillhouse avev sponsored by the Medford Lady Lions; Raeanne Lynn Baum, 2, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William H. Baum, Central Point, Central Point American Legion; Janet Kent, 5, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Kent, 922 South Oakdale ave., Women's Society of Christian Service; and Greta Kathleen Lund, 5, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Sidney Lund, Prospect, Prospect Lions auxiliary; and (top, left to right) Connie Jean Hanscom, 3, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Don Hanscom, Central Point, Gold Hill Grange; and Sherry Lynn Graves, 4, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Clifford Graves, Central Point, Women of the Moose. The queen will reign at the April 21 festival. (Landis-Shangle Photo) Man Admits Sale Jobs in Portland Portland (U.R) Police' re ported here Saturday that 25-year-old Jack Delaney had ad mitted 15 safecracking jobs in Portland that netted him several thousand dollars over a seven month period. Police said Delaney's arrest and admission cleared up one of All the states except Idaho ob serve Washington's Birthday as legal or public holiday. Use Tribune Vant Ads the most extensive one-man safe cracking operations on record here. A safecracker was frightened away from a northeast district drugstore recently and the crow bar he dropped as police fired at him fitted marks left on safes in several other businesses. Officers said the suspect's op erations included safecracking jobs in Milwaukie and West Linn. Bring Your Date . . . Our Food Is Great! bp blotch Cafe Next te Criteria n Beauty Shop eye and is located near Highway 99, about two miles south of Rogue River. The entire farm was originally owned-by his grandfather and has been in cul tivation for more than 100 years. The experimental plot is the only part of the farm that has been unproductive. On the land, which is non-irrigated and has had no special treatment, Birdseye, the Rogue Soil Conservation district, south ern Oregon branch experiment station and the county extension service are hoping to raise at least 20 improved forage type plants which should be good in this area. First step of the project, which involves about one-half acre of land, was to sample the soil and have it analyzed. Labo ratory reports indicated the soil pH was 5.9. There was a defi ciency in calcium and too much acid. One and one-half tons of 100 per cent calcium carbonate was recommended to neutralize the land. Soil Neutralization Soil neutralization and seed ing have already been completed and the next phase of the project will be application of lime and other fertilizers at varying rates. Ultimately the group will deter mine the best soil correction for these particular plants. "We hope to have this land producing as well as any other in the area," Tucker said. "There are many other farms in Jack son county on which production should be much higher. Testing is the first sure step in soil im provement and we hope every farm operator in the county eventually will be taking advan tage of the soil testing service." DR. CORNELL A. SABO Dentist Announces the Removal of His Office to 810 West Main Street Medford, Oregon Office Hours By Appointment Telephone 3-3934 MERCY FLIGHTS DS YOU! NEE DO YOU NEED MERCY FLIGHTS? 0 Anyone In Southern Oregon at any time may find himself in immediate need of the services of Mercy Flights. Ask any of the more than 430 patient who learned this from experience. Yet without the subscriber system Mercy Flights could not keep their planes available to meet the urgent requests. It's a fact. Mercy Flights planes are operated at a yearly loss of more than $10,000 and this loss is covered by the subscriber fees of $4 a year per family. However, those subscribers who do have need of a flight, more than get their mones worth. In a medical emergency, they can be taken anywhere within a 400-mile radius of Medford, and still not have to pay a cent. We urge every family in Southern Oregon and Northern California, within a 150-mile radius of Medford, to join Mercy Flights now. We believe it is safe to say that ther is not a resident in this area who does not know someone who has been flown as a patient by Mercy Flights. If you want to say "thanks" for that service, and ot the same time protect yourself and loved ones, join today. Mercy Flights, Inc. is a non-profit corporation serving you. Simply send your name, address, and $4 to Mercy Flights, Inc. P. O. Box 522 Medford, Oregon Your subscriber card, good for one year, will be sent to you.
