Photograph of H.H. Bennett, chief of the Soil Conservation Service, and F.S. Hurd, Chairman, Board of Supervisors, Arkansas Verdigris Soil Conservation District [SCD], examine an improved pasture on the farm of C.B. Ritberger. Ritberger says carrying capacity of this 88 acre pasture has been doubled since he improved it with the addition of hop clover, white Dutch, yellow hop and lespedeza. Ritberger first came to this 200acre farm as a tenant in 1928, he rented the farm for $700 from F.S. Hurd until 1938, when he bought the farm, paying $8000 cash. Starting with 2 cows in the diary business he has increased the herd to 40 Jerseys that average 20 pounds of milk per day, the year round. He also has 20 white-faced Herefords. His 92 acres of cultivated land are terraced and tilled on the contour. He has 12 acres of bluestem meadow and 2 acres of post lot. OK-8546.

Photograph of P.S. Hurd, Chairman, Board of Supervisors, Arkansas Verdigris's Soil Conservation District [SCD] and H. H. Bennett, Chief of the Soil Conservation Service examine some native little bluestem in the 12 acre meadow of the C.B. Ritberger farm. This meadow land is contributing a large amount of run-off to streams was formerly waste before Ritberger developed it under a plan worked out with the aid of technicians of the Soil Conservation Service assigned to assist the district. Grass today is helping to hold most of the rain on the land. OK-8548.

Photograph of H.H. Bennett, chief of the Soil Conservation Service, and F.S. Hurd, Chairman, Board of Supervisors, Arkansas Verdigris Soil Conservation District [SCD], examine an improved pasture on the farm of C.B. Ritberger. Ritberger says carrying capacity of this 88 acre pasture has been doubled since he improved it with the addition of hop clover, white Dutch, yellow hop and lespedeza. Ritberger first came to this 200acre farm as a tenant in 1928, he rented the farm for $700 from F.S. Hurd until 1938, when he bought the farm, paying $8000 cash. Starting with 2 cows in the diary business he has increased the herd to 40 Jerseys that average 20 pounds of milk per day, the year round. He also has 20 white-faced Herefords. His 92 acres of cultivated land are terraced and tilled on the contour. He has 12 acres of bluestem meadow and 2 acres of post lot. OK-8546.

Photograph of F.S. Hurd, Chairman, Board of Supervisors, Arkansas Verdigris Soil Conservation District [SCD], and H. H. Bennett, Chief of the Soil Conservation Service examine some native little bluestem in the 12-acre meadow of the C.B. Ritberger farm. This meadow land contributing a large amount of run-off to streams was formerly waste before Ritberger developed it under a plan worked out with the aid of technicians of the Soil Conservation Service [SCS] assigned to the district. Grass today is helping to hold most of the rain on the land. OK-8548.

Photograph of hauling in Alfalfa hay. Total acres in farm: 200; pasture, gg: cultivation, 92, native meadow, 12; post lot, 2; farmstead, 2. Ritberger signed a cooperative agreement with the Arkansas Verdigris SCD July 25, 1940. Farm owner (on top of wagon) and Claud Ritberger, son, are hauling in alfalfa hay from the 10 acre field that produces an average of 4 tons per acre annually. Some sheet and gullly erosion were active on this field before alfalfa was establsihed in cooperation with the district. Superphosphate and lime were applied to this field before planting alfalfa.

Photograph of cows on the Ritberger farm (remainng text to blurred and faded). OK-8547.

Photograph of the St. Louis and Santa Fe railroad tracks that were washed 200 feet from the railroad during recent record-breaking floods on the Verdigris River. These tracks washed from the roadbed and completely across Hwy 66 before lodging against the trees. Most of the rails are bent out of shape. Photo shows Verdigris River between Tulsa and Claremore. OK-8543.

Photograph of bermuda grass sprigs planted in every other cotton row. This field is to be retired to pasture and this means was taken to introduce the grass. It was cultivated whenever the cotton was. To be followed with later pictures.

Photograph of a Bermuda grass pasture.

Photograph of a roadside gully destroying a fence. On the right the fence has been moved back, the roadside resectioned, and set to Bermuda grass.

Photograph of a follow-up picture of Okla-5863. The back of the photograph proclaims, "Follow-up of Okla-5863. Four rounds have been plowed to the original ridge since the first picture was made. Bermuda grass has solidly covered the ridges and has spread somewhat in the intervals. It is planned to have the pasture completely plowed by three years from now. To be followed with progress pictures." A few buildings are in the upper left.

Photograph of a roadside gully on the left destroying a fence, on the right the fence has been moved back, the roadside resectioned, and set to Bermuda grass. OK-6906.