CONSERVATION CHARLEY 

 by Hai'ry Corry 



Onec upon a while ago the editor of the 

 "Cienl Falls Tribune" jumped up on the band wagon 

 ami i^avc th-i drum a couple of whacks with the 

 following editorial: 



"A national survey of the relationship of the 

 soil conservation program to the propagation 

 and preservation of small game in this country 

 indicates that if the American of the future is going 

 to enjoy hunting wildfowl and other small game, 

 he'll have today's farmers to thank. And the 

 farmer's contribution to the preservation of small 

 game is accomplished mainly through the soil 

 conservation program, with a big assist from the 

 federal government. 



"Advancing civilization, with its more inten- 

 sive farming, the building of new highways, airfields, 

 and suburban communities, destroys the natural 

 habitat of wildlife, such as squirrels, rabbits, 

 quail, pheasants, doves, wild ducks, and geese. 

 But the soil conservation program has done much to 

 correct this. 



"Government estimates place the number of 

 cooperating farmers at one and three-quarter 

 million — for the most part members of local 

 soil conservation districts. 



"The districts were formed years ago for the 

 primary purpose of combatting soil wastage through 

 Mdnd and water erosion but it has been only in quite 

 recent years that the preservation of wildlife has 

 also become an important objective of the program. 



"Much of the fishing likewise is also affected 

 by the way the farmers handle their land. 



"Limiting of game kill will be of little avail 

 if we fail to provide sufficient sustaining habitat 

 for the wildlife to thrive and multiply. In doing 

 this, it is essential that the sportsman and the 

 fai^mer work together in close and considerate 

 accord. " 



The squirrels, rabbits, quail, pheasants, 

 • lo^es, wild ducks and geese all join in to give 

 I 111 editor three hips and a bunch of hoorays for 

 ii - contribution to wildlife and soil conservation. 

 - ) ■ l>men, farmers and thinking people everywhei 



._ ii also do well to shake his hand, clap him on 

 '' I K-k and say, "Well Done." 



MONTANA NOXIOUS WEED CONTROL 

 ASSOCIATION MEETING TO BE NOVEMBER 19, 20 



Leslie Sonders, Extension Weed Specialist, aniiouncet^ 

 the annual meeting of the Montana Noxious Weed Con- 

 trol Association will be held in Bozeman on November 

 19 and 20. All sessions will be held in the Audi- 

 torium of the Agriculture Building at Montana State 

 College. 



This meeting will provide you an opportunity to 

 become acquainted with the most recent develop- 

 ments in weed control. Research workers will 

 discuss the developments on Canada thistle, 

 aquatic weeds, leady spurge, dalmation, toadlfax, 

 downy bromegrass (cheatgrass), small grains 

 and sugar beets. 



Another topic of discussion will be on the 

 Montana Weed Law and the legal authority of the 

 law. Other topics of discussion will include: 

 , Working together for More Effective Weed Con- 

 trol and A Look at the Montana Weed Situation 

 and What is Happening. 



The Montana Noxious Weed Association extends 

 a welcome to everyone. We sincerely hope you 

 will be able to join in learning how to fight the 

 battle against weeds. 



PILOT COUNTY TREE PLANTING PROGRAM 



A report of an evaluation committee of the pilot 

 tree planting program which has been underway in 

 Hill and Liberty Counties since 1961 show that the 

 planting accomplishments are quite significant. 



Some observations were: 1) Technical quality 

 of planting generally good. High survival despite 

 drought conditions some years. 2) Weed control 

 in the tree row is the number 1 problem. 3) 

 Visits to Canadian planting at Conquest seemed to 

 be the major factor in stimulating interest and in 

 giving farmers confidence. 4) Many farmers 

 entered the program on a trial basis by planting a 

 single row along one or two crop strips with a 

 wait-and-see attitude. A number of these farmers 

 have made additional plantings. 5) Below normal 

 moisture has not favored establishment of trees, 

 but the need to control soil blowing is reported to 

 be a factor in stimulating interest in tree planting. 

 6) Bulk delivery of planting stock worked sat- 

 isfactorily when a sponsoring group assumes 

 responsibility as was done by the Liberty County 

 SWCD. 



Don Baldwin, Ass't. State Foi-ester, says I am 

 very much interested in seeing Soil Conservation 

 , Districts participate fully in the tree planting 

 program. They can make a real contribution to 

 the job that needs to be done. 



6 



