Photograph of District Supervisor G. G. Goss using a tractor to combine rye and vetch for seed. The back of the photograph proclaims, “Combining rye and vetch for seed. This land has been in cultivation for 41 years. (G. G. Gross on tractor). Per Acre Yield: Unfertilized: 214# Abruzzi Rye Seed, 66# vetch, Fertilized: 224# Abruzzi rye seed, (120# superphosphate), 620# vetch seed, Cost of fertilizer, $1.65 per acre. Green Tonnage: Unfertilized: 3,079# rye, 103# vetch, Fertilized: 3,511# rye, 8,494# vetch. Total: Unfertilized, 1.59 tons per acre, Fertilized, 6.01 tons per acre. (The increase was 432# rye, 8,391# vetch). At 14 cents per lb. for vetch seed and 4 ½ cents per lb. for rye seed, the unfertilized crop amounted to $18.87 per acre. On fertilized land the per acre return was $96.88. The fertilizer made an increase in profit of $76.46 per acre.”

Photograph of two UNIDENTIFIED men standing in a class III rangeland. The back of the photograph proclaims, “Class III range land. Blue grama grass is very low state of vigor. Invaders are numerous including muhly grass, fluff grass, three-awn, and perennial broomweed. Erosion, moderate to severe indicating that permanent damage is occurring. Recovery on this type of range will be slow, although much change toward the more desirable species can be expected when the use of range is based upon preserving the grama grasses.”

Photograph of a Smooth Brome grass plant, approximately 30 inches high [text too faded for legibility].

Photograph of crested wheatgrass.

Photograph of the harvesting of 35 acres of King Ranch bluestem grass on the A. E. Bryant farm /ranch. A combine with a spike-tooth cylinder was used. Two days were required to harvest the grass. Mr. Bryant estimates he harvested 1500 pounds of clean seed. Planting was made in the spring of 1947. A good seed crop was harvested in June, a light crop in July and a good yield will be harvested in October. From 2 harvests in 1948 a total of 2500 pounds of seed were harvested. Mr. Bryant needs the following adjustments on his combine for harvesting the crop: the cylinder set at a speed of 1080 rpm; the header set high [unclear] off the air; a ¼ to 3/8 inch clearance on the cylinder; and the reel set forward and down. This is a perennial grass that appears to have a wide adaptation as to soil & rainfall. Note that the grass is waist-high. Planted in 3 feet rows (105 pounds on 35 acres). It has been kept in rows as row plantings tend to yield more than drilled plantings. Bryant has obtained good results by [unclear] dressing this grass with 100 pounds of ammonium sulphate …

Photograph of a shop-made brush rake used by W. C. Little of Abilene, Texas, to rake and windrow trees and brush following a tree-dozer and rear cutter. TX-45, 929.

Photograph of beef cattle grazing 20 acres of improved Bermuda grass pasture. Mr. Gunn, in the picture, developed the pasture several years ago from an old cultivated field and said, “I have mowed the weeds twice a year for three years and I’ve about exterminated a heavy growth of broomweed that hampered the Bermuda’s growth. In 3 years of regular mowing my grazing capacity has increased from one animal unit [for every] 3 acres to one animal unit per acre, 8 months out of the year.” Each year he harrows in and spreads the manure dropped by grazing stock and said that the grass cover is still improving. TX-41, 230.

Photograph of bees from this row of 23 hives are pollinating 35 acres of hairy vetch from which seed crop will be harvested. Bee pollination increases seed production. TX-45. 667.

Photograph of agricultural terraces. Collective terrace outlet sprig sodded to Bermuda grass in March, 1949 and planted to cotton in May, 1949. Cultivation of cotton results in the cultivation of Bermuda grass. The width of the strip is 160 feet and will be fenced and utilized as pasture after grass is well-established and the terraces are constructed. TX-45, 717.

Photograph of combining hubam clover from windrows. John Mulkay is the combine operator. Mr. P. B. Barry estimates that the 6 acre lot will yield about 550 pounds of seed per acre. TX-43, 168.

Photograph of the combining of vetch and Abruzzi rye for seed on the former idle land. Last year Bermal Hickman had 150 acres of vetch that grazed 130 head of cattle from November 20 to March 20. He said that the crop could have carried twice as many cattle. He estimates his yield of vetch seed, from 40 acres combined, at 60,000 pounds. He practices crop rotation, deffered grazing on 600 acres, trashy tillings and all fields that should be are terraced. He farms 780 acres under a 5 year cash lease with E. P. Kilgore, Brownwood, the owner. On the tractor are, left and right, Malcolm McKeehan, Boss (Bill) McKeehan and their father, an employee of Hickman's. TX-43, 108.

Photograph of Mr. J. B. Eberheart, who is running a combine rye and vetch seed material through a small portable seed cleaner. Following this operation the seed will be run through a spiral separator to separate the rye from the vetch and eliminate most of the unwanted unsound, cracked seeds. TX-42, 825.

Photograph showing some of the 175 hives of bees that are pollinating Madrid and Hubam Sweetclover on this 850 acre farm. There are 435 acres of Madrid of which 60 are to be harvested for seed. Bee pollonation increases seed production. TX-45-668.

Photograph of W. M. Nixon (left), L. K. Gregory (middle), and Elmer Clark (right).

Photograph of an aerial shot of part of a 305-acre farm. The back of the photograph proclaims, “This 305 ac. Farm is bounded by the road in the foreground & by the railroad & highway in the background, railroad can be identified by telegraph poles. The terraces & grain strips where terraces will be constructed empty into pasture strip in immediate foreground. Strips in background empty into lovegrass channel parallel with railroad which empties into pasture strip coming down from railroad & joining into pasture in left center. It is expected that this farm will be one of the outstanding examples of soil & water conservation in the Dalworth District. Terraces seen in the picture were constructed in fall of 1946. 4.2 miles of terraces were constructed in fall of 1947 & spring of 1947. Terraces on grain strips will be constructed in fall of 1947."

Photograph of a close-up view of Class II rangeland. The back of the photograph proclaims, “This picture shows Class II Range Land. Close-up view. Grass on this range is not as thick as that on the Class I range, indicating low vigor. A few undesirable species are coming in principally muhly grass, three-awn and perennial broomweed. Rapid recovery will be expected under safe use for permanent damage has not occurred. Slight sheet erosion. (Range is principally blue grama.)"

Photograph of two UNIDENTIED men examining a Class II Rangeland. A herd of cows is behind the barbed wire fence in background. The back of the photograph proclaims, "Class II Range Land. Grass on this range land is not thick as that on the Class I range, indicating low vigor. A few undesirable species are coming in principally muhly grass, three awn and perennial broomweed. Rapid recovery will be expected under safe use for permanent damage has not occurred. Slight sheet erosion."

Photograph of a hand of an UNIDENTIFED person showing off a Class I Range Land producing excellent forage. The back of the photograph proclaims, “Class I Range Land producing maximum forage. Range has been under continuous use and can increase in grazing without damage to range. Range is pure stand of blue grama grass this is in a vigorous condition producing large amount of forage. Only traces of undesirable species such as muhly grass, three-awn, and fluff grass. No erosion."

Photograph of a string of bass, blue gill, bream and catfish just caught from a 48 acre fertilized pond on the Dunmon Ranch. None of the fish are over 18 months old; the bass average between 1 ¼ to 1 ½ pounds each; bream and blue gill average to ¾ pounds each. Jack Whitley and Henry T. Peebles, ranch hands, are holding the catch. TX-41, 630.

Photograph of class IV Land Clearance, Cultivation & Brush and Weed Control. Blue grama practically all gone. Most of the sparse vegetation is annual, principally 6-week grama, false buffalo and goat hand, although still remains traces of blue grama, tobosa and burro grass with a scattering of Sphaeralcea angustifolia. Severe erosion. Maria Silty Clay Loam. TX-40, 445.

Photograph of oats following oats: 15 bushels per acre. Oats following vetch: 60 bushels per acre. J.N. Dickenson, the Palo Pinto, Texas Soil Conservation District supervisor, who lives 6 miles northwest of Perrin, listens while G. F. Wimberley, post master and soil conservation district cooperator tells how vetch increased his per-acre yield of oats from 15 bushels to 60 bushels per acre. The increase is indicate by comparing the two piles of oats, 4 ounces in one and 16 ounces in the other. The vetch was planted in December, 1943. It was grassed and it yielded 7254 seeds on 6.2 acres. TX-43. 157.

Photograph of pasture development and improvement. Beef cattle grazing Bermuda pastures overseeded to Dallis grass, yellow hop, black medic and white Dutch clovers. 15 acres cleared and sodded this year. Mr. Jeffus, the district supervisor in the picture says, “In 1937, I started clearing and retiring 216 acres for pasture. With assistance of CCC [Civilian Conservation Corps} we cleared 40 acres of small trees and heavy undergrowth and retired 176 acres of cultivated land that in 1936 had overflowed 13 times before I made a crop. This is rich bottomland that is capable of producing a bale of cotton or 40 bushels of corn per acre but wet seasons made yields uncertain. I’ve moved the pasture every year and it carries 108 head of cattle the year round with only a little hay to help through the winter. The land is worth more in pasture than it would be in cultivation even if I made a maximum crop every year. I believe regular moving has increased the carrying capacity of this pasture four times.” TX-41, 227.

Photograph of pasture development and improvement. Beef cattle are grazing on Bermuda pasture overseeded to Dallis grass, yellow hop, black medic and white Dutch clovers. 15 acres cleared and sodded this year. Mr. J. L. Jeffus, the district supervisor in the picture, says “In 1937 I started clearing and retiring 216 acres for pasture. With the assistance of CCC [the Civilian Conservation Corps] we cleared 40 acres of small trees and heavy undergrowth and retired 176 acres of cultivated land that in 1936 had overflowed 13 times before I made a crop. This is rich bottomland that is capable of producing a bale of cotton or 40 bushels of corn per acre but wet seasons made yields uncertain. I’ve moved the pasture every year and it carries 108 head of cattle the year round with only a little hay to help through the winter. The land is worth more in pasture than it be in cultivation even if I made a maximum crop every year. I believe regular mowing has increased the carrying capacity of this pasture four times.” TX-41, 227.

Photograph of a close up of side oats grama on retired land seeded in 1944 to a mixture of side-oats, blue grama, bluestem and hairy grama. The overseeding was done on land following the planting of Sudan grass [Sorghum × drummondii]. TX-42, 901.