Newspapers / The Alleghany News and … / May 23, 1946, edition 1 / Page 2
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Soil Conservation Value Is Stressed By Miss Walker (Editor’s Note: Miss Helen Walker, who is the daughter of Rev. and Mrs. F. G. Walker, of Sparta, and member of the elev enth grade class at Sparta high school, delivered a speech on soil conservation before the North Carolina Bankers Assoc iation at Pinehurst last week. Miss Walker was given a trip to Pinehurst, with expenses paid in recognition of speaking pro wess when she won the district contest at Elkin recently. She was accompanied there by her father, the Rev. Mr. Walker. Miss Walker’s prize-winning speech on soil conservation fol lows:) The greater part of the earth’s surface is covered with a layer ®f loose particles, varying in depth from a few inches to sev eral feet. This layer is called soil, but to the agriculturist, soil is only those portions that are suitable for the production of plants. Conservation has been de fined as the “greatest good, to the greatest numbers, and that for the longest time.” Conservation as a complex and inter-related problem. It means different things to different people. For i instance: (1) To the forester—it means forest conservation. (2) To the fisherman—it means conserving trout streams. (3) To the e x o n omist—it means effective land utiligation. (4) To the farmer—control of soil erosion. There are these and many pro fessional people who are in con servation of many types. Today, we’re most interested in the far mer who desires conservation for the protection of his soil. President Theodore Roose 'velt Said, “When soil is gone, jman must go and the process doesn’t take long!” Soil without a cover loses as much as sixty tons a year. In forests and grass lands there is j little if any soil lost. Ordinary j crops deplete the soil, but by a process of crop rotation, plow ing under green manure crops and fertilization the soil can be restored. Water flowing over the surface of land washes away the thin sheet of fertile topsoil and wind also carries away the soil. Gullies appear and serious eros ion begins. Erosion not only affects the individual farm, but goes out side its boundaries and spreads from farm to farm. To prevent erosion and endea vor intelligently to follow out definite plans to preserve and conserve the soil it is necessary tb: (1) Plant cultivated crops on fertile and level land so as to avoid soil depletion and washing away. (2) To drain swamps, marshes :.nd wet lands where practical. (3) To limit grazing on pasture lands. (4) To place check dams in gullies to halt runaway rain water. (5) To use slops for permanent pastures and forests to hold soil. (6) To practice crop rotation so as to maintain fertility. (7) To use strip-crop rotation and contour cultivation which holds water and breaks up dust storms. Now, let us study some of these problems. Some people seem to think that swamps and marshes are useless, but these people have been misinformed. By proper dVainage the value of this land can be doubled. For instance, there was a piece of land in Sparta, Class 5A land. It was a low place and unfit for anything, valued at $100.00 per acre. The owner is now using tile drainage to drain this land and by this simple method, which only cost him $400.00 for the thirteen acres of land, he has raised the value of his land to $200.00 per acre and it is now Glass I land. One day last week I observed a nasture that had once been nothing more than a swamp. The farmer now has the tile Vote To Re-Elect J. Erie McMichael Solicitor In Democratic Primary May 25,1946 To the Veterans and Citizens of Alleghany County: Mr. McMiehael is a veteran of World War I. He enlisted and served as a member of the 30th (Old Hickory) Division, which broke the Hindenburg Line. He fought in every battle in which this famous division was engaged and was cited far the Congressional Medal of Honor. His record as a soldier and as Solicitor is deserving and commendable. His opponent is a veteran of the present war and (here is no intention to disparage him, BUT IT IS A FACT, THAT HE IS BEING ACTIVELY SUPPORTED BY THE C. L O., WHICH JOHN L. LEWIS FOUNDED, and its paid political agents are working for him. Sponsored and paid for by the Veterans and citizens of Alleghany County, friends of J. Erie McMiehael. drainage system at work and has one of the best pastures in Alleg hany county. Gullies are caused by wind and water. They may start as small as your finger and grow into an ugly ditch if left uncheck ed. They are immediate danger spots. Gullies hamper cultivat ion, steal moisture from the soil, endanger livestock and cut down market value of property. We must heal them! Grass is an excellent gulley-healer because the plants will fill the walls and floor with a vast tangle of roots that will grip the soil and the thick mats of stems and leaves will hold the water. If the gulley is small it may be healed by seeding it to adapted grasses or legumes. Then a gen erous application of superphos phate and lime will help these plants get started. It is often hard to gain control of large gullies. Here are a few helps for these gullies: (1) Plow contour furrows on the slops above the gulley. (2) Place a series of dams made of concrete, brush, masonary, fence, rocks or slabs in the gully and its tributaries. (3) Plant belts of sod in the gulley. (4) If sodding doesn’t complete the job, then try planting grasses, legumes,' shrubs, or trees along the walls or floor. Many millions of tons or rich topsoil have been washed off of steep grades and slopes. When one inch of soil has been taken off of an acre of land, you have lost 150 tons of soil. How great is this loss! To prevent erosion on slopes pastures can be planted. When I say pastures, I don’t mean a “weed patch,” but a crop! Many farmers regard the pasture as a poor relation to their cropland. The result is; weeds spring up, the pasture is overgrazed, gul lies appear, and the animal car rying capacity is greatly reduced. Here are a few tips for a good (1) Make a good seed bed. (2) Lime. (3) Fertilize. (4) Seed. (5) Mow. (6) Don’t overgraze. One Thursday morning two re presentatives of the Soil Conser vation Service took three of us on a field research trip. As we were peacefully riding along ob serving the fields, forests, and everything else in sight, we saw a woman working in her garden, so we stopped. On this farm soil conservation and fertilization of pastures had been practiced for eight years. When asked for a statement as to how much good they had received from it the woman replied, “Well, eight years ago we could only graze three cows .on 20 acres of land. We have been using lime and phos phate and mowing our pastures and as a result we can now graze 23 cows and 2 horses on this same 20 acres. And that’s the truth!” This man is saving $226. a year for cow feed. Over a period of 10 years it would amount to $2,260.00. I was talking with another Alleghany farmer’s wife, who is 100 percent for soil conservation. She said, “Last year the milk from our cows tested higher than milk from pure-bred Jersey cows. Some people thought we had a pull to get this test, but I had never seen the men before. I know what caused it, it was be cause we fertilized our land.” It is a fact that people are healthier when they drink milk and eat meat that has been pro duced on fertilized land. (Continued Next Week) Whitehead News Miss Emeline Joines, of Sparta, spent the week end with Miss Elouise Joines. Arlice Atwood, of the Mer chant Marines, is spending a fur lough with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. G. C. Atwood. Mr. and Mrs. Kermit Edwards, and daughters Opal, and Irene, were dinner guests of Mr. and Mrs. James C. Caudill, Sunday. Mrs, Oscar Wyatt and daugh ters, Merry Lee, and Carol, spent Sunday with Mrs. Jess Wyatt, who has been ill for the past week. Mrs. Wyatt’s condition re mains the same. Mrs. Stella Mae Taylor spent the week end with her sister, Mrs. Curtis Blackburn, and Mr. Blackburn, at Sparta. Mrs. L. V. Richardson is able to be out again after being con fined to her home for several weeks. Mrs. Maggie Maxwell, of Sparta, spent Sunday night with Mr. and Mrs. Carl Edwards and Mrs. Stella Mae Taylor. Lawrence Mason, Rt. 5, States ville, was instrumental in the or ganization of the new Iredell County Dairy Herd Improvement Association which now haj 290 co\ys ou lest. , ' • ALCATRAZ PRISON QUIETS DOWN . . . Following the rioting which broke out at the “rock,” Alcatraz federal prison in San Francisco bay, which resulted in the death of two guards and three prisoners, the prison authorities with the assistance of marines, coast guard and San Francisco police restored order with capture of remaining leaders of the break. Aerial photo of the island. 1—shoe and furniture shops; 2—power house; 3—prisoners* yard; 4—men’s hall and kitchen; 5—main cell block; 6—administration and warden’s office; 7—warden’s home; 8—landing dock; 9—guards’ recreation yard; 10—cat walk; 11—guard tower and 12—wharf. Timely Hints It's time to clean up and clean out winter’s accumulation of debris from all buildings. Clean, grease, and replace worn parts of machinery, look over buildings (home and out-buildings), make necessary repairs. Fire prevention specialists say inspect every building on the Swanson For State Senate My Republican Friends: In order to keep the records straight about this Republican primary; I was nominated by the Republican County Convention, (as this paper has already pub lished two or three times) it was asked at this convention that if there were any other nominees from my precincts to please let it be known, there were no other nominees from the floor. N. Carl Jones had his name filed the last few minutes before the filing deadline at 6 P. M. on April 13, by his stooge and half uncle, Neal Jones, (Of course to spite his neighbor, and for no other rea son). It is obvious that this is a lick below the belt, and against a veteran. I have not promised anyone, including “Norm” Carl Jones, or his half uncle Neal Jones, that I would withdraw my name from the ticket, under any condition, the least of which would be his withdrawal. I still don’t intend to withdraw’ it—Win or lose. Carl Jones, (his young wife calls him “Norm,”) called at my home last week when I was not at home, and informed my wife that he was withdrawing his name from the ticket, because he had THREE BIG FARMS to op erate, 30 acres of corn to plant, SEVERAL SAW MILLS to run, A NEW $1800.00 TRUCK to drive, and with all his business to see to, he could not make the race for the State Senate, there was no condition that I withdraw whatever. Now it is true that Carl “Norm” Jones does have three big farms, all paid for, I un derstand. He also has sawmills and a NEW truck. He obtained his priority for the new truck while other veterans and I only had priority on FOXHOLES. Of course he made the money to pay for his three BIG farms while we were also fighting for our homes, and his three farms, and his rights to sell lumber, and drive that Big Truck. Now it seems, friends, that it would be a pity, to send such a valuable man of affairs to Raleigh, in the State Senate, at a salary of only $600. per year. Don’t you know, friends, that his business would suffer, but on the other hand, I am not a rich man, I can afford to go. I am still able and willing to go to the State Senate, and make you a Senator, that you could feel justly proud. If you are registered as a Re publican, I will highly appreciate a vote of confidence on May 25th. in the Republican Primary. PAUL SWANSON. Paid political auvei tisement. j farm and make sure: 1—Trash, rubbish, waste paper, old clothing, feed bags, bedding, and the like are removed and turned in for salvage. Fires orig- i inate in debris which likewise serves as tinder for any spark or carelessly tossed match. i 2—Dust, cobwebs, shavings and ] other flammable materials, are cleaned away from fuse boxes, ' motors, and other electrical de vices to avoid flash fires. Replace 1 worn extension cords, and repair ■ lefective equipment. 3.—The heating plant and the :himney are clean. Replace worn >arts. Repair cracks in masonry oints in the chimney, and install i spark arrester if the roof is not jrotected with fire-resistant roof ng. CAMERA-FILM OFFER 1946 “CHAMPION” MODEL FREE!! Color Candid Typo Comoro $*1.93 Compare Our Size 5" Long Includes 2 roils of No. 127 film FREE # Takes fall NATURAL COLOR pic tures indoors or outdoors. # Takes 16 blrck-and-whites on ordi nary No. 127 8-exposure roll. # New film track brings entire picture to sharp focus. # Equipped with GENUINE Simpson # Fixed focus! Exposure automati cally correct at all times. # Precision built—fool proof. # Attractively boxed. DON'T CONFUSE WITH TOY CAMERAS Guarant— with tocA cammra RUSH money-order, save C.O.D. feet. IMMEDIATE SHIPMENT „ K & K SALES COMPANY 534 Pittsburgh Life Bldg. , Dept. 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Do it now...and enjoy the I days of “Happy Motoring” that / lie ahead! 1 / ... . GSNIRAI CHECK-UP NOW-Don’t let needless failure of tires, battery, 8P^_ expert care! * STANDARD OIL COMPANY of new jersey i MOTORISTS SEE US FOR ESSO PRODUCTS GARAGE SERVICE Twin Oaks Motor Co. W. CARL IRWIN, MGR. STOP HERE FOR ESSO PRODUCTS Located Just Oft Skyland Drive on Highway 21 Geo. Woodruffs Place Glade Valley, N. C. * SHU
The Alleghany News and Star-Times (Sparta, N.C.)
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May 23, 1946, edition 1
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