Photograph of an Amarillo trap. This area accidentally burned in May, 1948. Seeded about 100 acres in March 1949 [with] [unclear] pounds of King Ranch bluestem, 100 pounds of sideoats grama and 100 pounds of buffalograss. Deferred the growing seasons of 1949 and 1950. TX-47-373.

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 Pat Higgins kneeling in Buffel grass that was combined three weeks earlier. Seed heads are already sticking up and some are shattering. TX-47, 348.

Photograph of crested wheatgrass.

Photograph of Pat Higgins, who squats in green buffelgrass and holds up dead grass burrs growing right beside the buffel grass. The grass burrs died due to lack of moisture. TX-49, 350.

Photograph of a panoramic view of a 640 acre tract. A land utilization [L.U.] project where 206 acres were seeded in June 1948 to Martin Milo for stubble in which to seed side oats grama grass in the spring of 1949. Once cultivated, this land suffered moderate wind erosion during the wind-blown dust bowl years of the 1930s. TX-44, 635.

Photograph of a fence line contrast. The pasture on the left has been heavily grazed with sheep. No rains have occurred in 1953. The result is that the range is almost bare. The pasture on the right has not been used as heavily and some clover still remains.

Photograph of a four-foot Buffalo grass plant at Pat Higgin’s place. It is loaded with seeds. Higgins planted some of the Buffel grass seed at the end of September 1950. The plant has seed heads out of the boot within 24 days of germination. TX-47, 349.

Photograph of Angleton grass—a solid mat of green forage. Average height is 4 feet. Runners range from 14 to 16 feet long. This grass was planted on 2 ½ acres in April, 1950. Planted in rows six feet apart from hand-dug clumps. TX-47-346.

Photograph of Pat Higgins showing Bill Roundtree, Soil Conservation District [SCD], the large seedhead forming on his Angleton grass. TX-47-347.

Photograph of Rhodes Grass Pasture Planted. Planted in 36 inch rows in 1939. This area has been mowed for hay twice this year, has been lightly grazed and is now almost ready for the third cutting. A complete cover has been attained. Absence of weeds is a result of mowing and proper management of the pasture. TX-40, 534.

Photograph of crested wheatgrass (Agropyron cristatum). TX-43, 859.

Photograph of Louisiana Red Clover growing on Soil Unit # 1, first year, following rice crop. Red Clover is proving to be a good forage crop in addition to its soiling improving effects on the soil. TX-95-6.

Photograph of James Doneghy combining seed from 20 acre field of weeping lovegrass planted April 17, 1945, in 42" rows. Yielded 40 seed per acre on July 31, 1945.

Photograph of a homemade weed mower used to mow weeds in citrus orchards. The back of the photograph proclaims, "Home made [sic] weed mower used to mow weeds in citrus orchards. Whirling blades with mower knives on edges cuts weeds at height of about 4" from ground. Power takeoff from tractor – 5 disc blades, about 30" diameter, cuts strip about 12.5 feet wide. No other cultivation practiced in these orchards for last year."

Photograph of a homemade weed mower used to mow weeds in citrus orchards. The back of the photograph proclaims, "Home-made weed mower used to mow weeds in citrus orchards. Whirling blades with mower knives cuts weeds at height of about 4 inches from ground. Power to drive blades comes from the wheels – 3 disc blades, 30 inches wide. Cuts strip about 7.5 wide, pulled with Ford tractor. No cultivation practiced in these orchards in last year."

Photograph of Rex Welch standing in a field.

Photograph of Avery Dillard, tractor driver, and W. O. Rachels, on combine, combining rye and vetch seed in peach-pecan orchard. People shown in photo go as followed from left to right: 1. W. O. Rachels, 2. Avery Dillard. The back of the photograph proclaims, "Combining rye and vetch seed in peach-pecan orchard (Avery Dillard, tractor driver, and W. O. Rachels, on combine). Mr. Alexander had a total of 112 acres of vetch, 60 acres of which was in orchard. Fourteen acres were saved for seed. Vetch in orchard was planted Sept. 29 and fertilized with superphosphate at rate of 240# per acre. Average green tonnage: 10.1 of which 90% was vetch."

Photograph of an UNIDENTIFED man on a tractor pulling a stalk cutter used in citrus orchard for chopping sown cover of weeds and grasses. The back of the photograph proclaims, "Stalk cutter used in citrus orchard for chopping sown cover of weeds and grasses. No cultivation is used. Cutter leaves thick cover of dead residue that protects the surface from erosion, increases infiltration of rainfall and reduces surface temperature and evaporation. Shield over part of cutter protects tree branches when working close to trees."

Photograph of W. M. Nixon and R. H. Vahrenkamp looking at cover of chopped-up litter left on surface of soil in citrus orchard by stalk cutter. Photograph does not identify the left to right positions of Nixon or Vahrenkamp. The back of the photograph proclaims, “W. M. Nixon and R. H. Vahrenkamp looking at cover of chopped-up litter left on surface of soil in citrus orchard by stalk cutter. Litter protects surface from erosion, increases rainfall penetration and reduces surface evaporation and temperatures. No other cultivation is used in this orchard. Vegetation is kept down by means of the stalk cutter used as needed.”

Photograph of an UNIDENTIFIED man standing in a winter cover crop next to a John Deere tractor with a planter attached. The back of the photograph proclaims, "Winter cover crop (vetch, etc.) planter attached to the front of the tractor with cultivator attached. The planter is shop made from an old grain drill and broadcasts the seed in front of cultivator that covers the seed. One way to plant cover crop at the same time cotton or sorghum are given their last cultivation."