Rerospecive Theses and Disseraions Iowa Sae Universiy Capsones, Theses and Disseraions 1940 Hisory and developmen of an experimenal bobwhie managemen area in souhern Iowa Earl Sanders Iowa Sae College Follow his and addiional works a: hps://lib.dr.iasae.edu/rd Par of he Ecology and Evoluionary Biology Commons, Environmenal Sciences Commons, and he Zoology Commons Recommended Ciaion Sanders, Earl, "Hisory and developmen of an experimenal bob-whie managemen area in souhern Iowa " (1940). Rerospecive Theses and Disseraions. 12784. hps://lib.dr.iasae.edu/rd/12784 This Disseraion is brough o you for free and open access by he Iowa Sae Universiy Capsones, Theses and Disseraions a Iowa Sae Universiy Digial Reposiory. I has been acceped for inclusion in Rerospecive Theses and Disseraions by an auhorized adminisraor of Iowa Sae Universiy Digial Reposiory. For more informaion, please conac digirep@iasae.edu.
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>1 HISTORY MID DEVELOPMENT OF AH EXFEEIMENTAL BOB-WHITE MASAGEMEMT AEEA IM SOUTHERM IOhA by Earl Sanders A Thesis Submed o he Graduae Faculy for he Degree of DOCTOB OF KilLOSOFuY Ma^or Subjec ZoolOQr Appro-rod; Signaure was redaced for privacy. In charge Ikj or work Signaure was redaced for privacy. Signaure was redaced for privacy. Dean of Gmduae College lom Sa College 1940
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vr..,j -2- C:,,., ^,; ip fabu: 0)? coimts I. ACKHCMLEDGMIITS S II. ISTBODUCflOI 5 III. HISTORY OF THE ORGAHIZAflOI OP THE BOB-WHITE EXFEEIlffiHTAL QME MMAGEMEHT AREA U IT. feghiiques OF ESSEARCH 15 misiogsahilcal DESCRIPTIOS OF THE ARIA... 17 1. EAILY AMD PRESEIT GAME MMIALB AM) UFLA! GAIIE BIRDS 22 911. EFFECT OF FATHER COiBlTIOIS 01 T^GETATIOII SO Till. AGRIGBLTIJRAL CROPS Alffi BOB-TffllTE MA!3AGE! llf 50 IX. LI 1ST0CK AID BOB-IHITE MMLA.GEISS1T 60 X. GA?? MAIAGEMEIT imcficep BY THE FARMERS...... 70 XI, I!ISBCfI OROUS AID SEED-EATIIG BIRDS 11 BOB-lrllTE MMAGE&SEHT 98 SII. BIRDS OF PREY ASB BOB-lHIfS MAMAGEMIST 101 XIII. Of.81H MMiMS HELATSD I'O BOB-«iITE IIAlASSISSf 104 XIV. SOCIAL AHD EGOIOMIC COSDITIOIS AS fijsy ISFLUEHCl BOB-lHIfE MMAGir^If lis X?. PQFUIATIOB fwcwatims OF BOB-li!iTE Og THB AREA... 118 xn. FASr^ES-SPOlTSHAS SELATIOisSHIi^ 140 2 IS. SBIMARI 143 roil. LITBRirUlS CITED 147 f 2^1
I. ACKHCMLEDGSDI'fS The isrier d-shes o acknowledge he excellen Goiinsel and valimble criicism of Dr. George 0. Ilendrickson and of Dr. Logan J«Eenos, former leader of he CooperaiTO Wildlife Research Uni, loaa S^e College, as direcors of his research. Appreciaion is; expressed o Tbos. G, Sco, presen leader of his Uni, for his ineres and assisance.. Inspiraion and eneouragctsn wore graefully reoeiired fro?n Dr. Oarl J. Drake, I3r. TIarr;\- H. Knigh, Dr. Elorj- R. Becker, Dr. Oscar S, Tauber, all of he Deparmen of EGologjr and Ixiomologys Dr. John M. Ailomn, Boany Deparnen, and Professor S. B. McDonald, Foresry Deparmeji, all of Iowa Sae College. Because of he ija-ure of he problem and is scope, assisance in securing inforrnaion and advioe were received from M, L. Huon, Fred Schwob^ and Taylor Kuson, all of Iowa Consermion Commission, Professor H.D. Eughes, Beparrsen of Agriculure, W. C» Dachler, Ind-usrial Economics, Professor Harold looser, 'Visual Insruoion Exension Deparmen, and Dr. Percy li. Carr, Physics Deparmen, all of Iowa Sae College. The Agriculural Adjusmen Mninisraion. Unied Saes Deparaen of Agriculure, kindly furnisked he aerial phoograph of he Game Area. Charles D. Saed, Senior ^eorologis. Unied Saes Deparmen of Agriculure, Des Moines, aided he -wrier grealy in he inerpreaion of he -weaher daa used in his research. Hobei^ Moonmn, Graduae Assisan, Iowa S-fcae College, -who suooeeded he wrier in reseaj-oh -work on he Boh-'whie ExperiiBenal Area,
-4~ cooperaed -wih he wrier in securing census daa which isere of valuable assisanee. I is a pleasure o acknowledge he help and cooperaion of he farmers living on he area, especially he key fanners, Floyd Flensing and Sben Carver, and of he rappers -who assised in he collecion of fur daa. Their assisance mde i possible o oarrs)- on his invesigaion.
II. MTBODUCflOH Alhou^ lom has been aa agriculural sae since i "was seled by he whie aan, no -unil recenly he-v he problems of wildlife jmnagetnen and conservaion as relaed o agriculural pracices beoom generally recognized in he sae. Ihe clearing of imber and illing of he soil brough abou radical changes in naiiral food supplies and oher cologieal condiions affecing naive wildlife -which he early -whie selers found in his sae. As more people caffie, more aiad more land was placed in euli-mion. The ever increasing number of people aiid he changes -which hey brough abou resuled in greaer and greaer changes in he naural habi-fca of all -wildlife. The enviroibaen of some -vd-ldlife species, specially of he Easern Bob-whie (Colinus virg;i3aianus Txr^inianus (Lixmasas))^ mis definiely improved by hese early agriculural pracices. Hosrever, as lam land becaiae increasingly mluable and almos every illable acre ms culitra-ed he food supply and suiable cover for his bird -were decreased so ha i found condiions no longer favorable for mainaining is nibi^ers. The s-ae legislaure recognized he q^mil ensergenoy aia closed -f^ie huning season on hem in he spring of 1917» By 1932, The S-fcae Fish aaad Gaaae Gousmission realised ha H»rely closing he season had no acooji^ plished he desired resuls* I is eviden from heir repor for -he 1«The scienific»ah 8 of birds isere -fcaken from he Aiaeriean Omihol-' egiss' IFsioa Cheek-lis of lerh Ansrican Birds, fourh ediion, 19S1.
-6- "biennium nding Jme 30, 1SS2, ha iiaich disoussioa and plaimiag had ooeurred during his period abou mys and means of procedure for Bjainaining aimi increasing he gam species of he sae, Th saemen is aiade in his repor (p. ls-14): ''The Fish aad Gasne Deparmen is now esablishing an adminisraiv foros o esablish and naimge demoasraioa areas o deerreine o -wha exen he supply of pheasans cau. bs increased. ie Comsission has also assised in he asablishrasn of a research deparssea a Iowa Sae College o sudy h coudiions Tinder "Shich gatb can esablish and mainain iself under our agriculiral mehods. Benonsraion areas for quail in he souhern half of h sae ar also "being esablished o deermine, if possible, o '«aiia exen our supply of hese naive birds can be increased, and wheher or no a shoo-eble surplus can be raainained#" The firs gas mnagemen area in Iowa ms a coisbinaion quail and pheasan area in Benoa Couny, organized in 1932, and knom in he files of he Coimnission as a pheasan demonsraioa area* The firs quail deraonsraion area was locaed in. Davis Couny aiid conained 841 acres. This area "Was S'O ^p ixj by Fohxii Sail of he.associaion field saff, now of h Unied Saes Bareai of Biological Survey, who ms assising Aldo Leopold in laaking a survey of Iowa o formulae recojtih»ndaioas for he conser-raion of wildlife, fhese isere incorporaed in "he Repor on he Iowa fareny~five Year Conservaion Plan (19S3), The need of more definie informion on mnag Tii n of he Sae's gam species led o he esablishmen of a isildlife research program July 1, 19S2, by he cooperaion of he loro Pish and Gam Coramission,
Jay H. Darling aad Iowa Sae College o expand and exend he work of Charles E«Bessey, Herber Oebom, William T, Hornaday, F. E. L. Beal» Lovis H. Poami! and Joseph 1. Guhrie, fhe Tsork of his hree-year progaram under o direcion of Dr. Carl J. Drake, Dr. Paul L. Erringon* and he lae Prof. Joseph E, Guhrie, all of Iowa Sae College, mis so saisfacory ha i -was furher expanded and placed on a five-year fh Iowa Sae College Cooperaive Wildlife Research Uni ms esablished a &ms July 1, 19SS, hrough a eooperalve arrangemea of Iowa Sae College, Iowa Sae Conservaion Commission, he Unied Saes Bureau of Biological Survey and he Aissericaii Wildlife Insiue. This Research Uni ms inder he direcion of Dr. Carl J» Drake, Iowa Sae College, Fred Soh'?iOb» Iowa Sae Conservaion CoTsmssion, and Logan J, Benne, Associae Biologis of he Unied Saes Bureau of Biological Survey who was succeeded by fhos. G«Seo, Agen of he Unied Saes Bureau of Biological Survey, larch, 1S28* 0ns of he iniial projecs of his expanded program ms research on he bob-'sfeie on o Experimenal Bob-whie Ifenageaen Areas locaed in Dooaw aiai Wayne Counies (Figs. 1 and 2). In Uove^er, 1935, Wason E* Beed os appoined as graduae assisan in h Eaomolosr aad Economic Zoology Secion of he Agriculural Experimen Saion, lom Sae College, o begin his research. In June, 19S6, he acceped oher duies asd on July 1, 1936, he -swier «as appoined o coninue his work. Afer he wrier had spen some itue living on he area and sudying is problems i beearae obvious ha in addiion o bob-ishie isanagesjen research work, an invesigaion liould have o be raads of as Tany of he agriculural, economic and social facors as possible which are relaed
o he producion and harree of a shoosble surplus of bob-«siie year afer year. Th resuls of his invesigaion from July, 19S6, o Febrmiy, 1940, are included ia his hesis.
-9 27 26 DECATUR COUMTY1 WAYNE COUNTY 26 30 29 34 35 36 32 Oi z (O OO h- NORTH AREA WOODLANp SOUTH AREA 23 20 22 24 27 30 R.24W. DECATUR COUNTY WAYNE COUNTY R.23W. Fig. 1. Experimenal bob-whie game managemen area, Iowa.
i -10-
Fig. 2. Asrial phoograph of experimenal bob-whie gam managemen area, Iowa. (Taken Ocober, 1937).
-11- III. HISfOSY OF fhs OSGAIIZATIOH OF THE BOB-MilTE EXPEEiMSBTAL GAlffi M^AGEMEHf AHEA A group of farmrs, Ocober 25, 1933, assised by Cepuly Gaii Tfarden H A. Eolgren of he Sae Fish and Gaiss Cosmassion opganised Gauffi MBumgemea Area Ho. 27-9S-1. This g&m area conained 4,289 acres and included par or all of seeione 1, 2, log 11, 12 and IS, Range 24 W., Township 68 li». Woodland Toisnship, secions 26, 35 and 36 Bange E4 W,, Township 69 of Eighpoin Township in Deoaur Coviny and secions 6 and 7 Eang 22 W., Township 68 S., Jefferson Township in Wayne Couny. Floyd Fleming was seleced as ley Fam r for his area. A similar area lo* SS-ST-l ms organised January 21, 1SS4, in he earae manner as he firs. This area conained 2,171 acres, adjoined he firs on he souh and included par or all of secions 13, 14, 2S and 24 Eange 24 W,, Township 68 H. of Woodland Township, Deeaur Goimy and secions 17, 18, 19 and So Eange ^ W,, Tomship 68 H. of Jefferson Township, Wayne Couny. Iben Carver ms seleced K&j Fanner for his area. The objecs of he organizaion of Ga-cc Mamgemen areas as saed by he Sae Fish and Gair Coraffiission (19S4, p. 19) were, "(l) o build environmens so ha ishen adeqxme seed sock of ^sne exiss or is placed i isill have a reasonable chance of producing annually surplus crops which may be harvesed by he -mn mhn lifees o huni (2) o gain sosae meastxre of conrol over he ake so ha adequae breeding socks remin on he landj (S) o build a favorable relaionship beween he huner and he land e^sr SO "fciif V adequae areas -my be kep ava&lable o
-12- h huner." The specific purpose on he par of he Sae Fish and Gas Cofflffiission for he or^nimioe of he deseribed areas ms o mnage beer he producion of bob-'asiie. IThe objec on he par of mos of he farmers of he wo areas ms o secure he benefi of legislaion in conrolling respassing and providing proeeion agaijis unauhoriaed huning as provided in Secion 170S- el. Chaper 86 of he Code of loiwaj 193S. Ms&l signs (fig. 3) were protided he farsaers for fify cens each by he Sae Fish am Gas Goramission for mrkiag he bouidaries of he farms ajd areas. N o TRESPASSING WITHOUT PERMISSIOK GAME MANAGEMENT AREA I ^WA FISH COMMISSION ^GAME Fig. S, Area boundary mrfcer
-IS- On Msiy 17, 1935, he Sae Pish and Gan Coinmission and he Sae Board of Goaserraion -were merged o form he presan Sae Conservaioa Commission. Sarly ia SoveiBber, 1S35, he farasers in Game llanageiasn Areas Kos. 27--9S-1 and 9S-27-1 were intied o aend a a^eing a which plans were presened by represenai-ros of he Iowa Sae College CooperaiT? Wildlife Research Uni and he Sae Consermion Goanission for organizing he areas as Experimenal Bob-»hi Gass Mssmgemen Areas o he operaed for five years, llx nor^i area. So. 27-S3-1, -was o b known as a payshooing area and "iie fanaars were o be pearmied o charge for huning pritileges. The souh area, SS-27-1, m.s o be kno-m as a freeshooing area and he farmers were o be paid en cens an acire. Designaed bob-whie managemen praoices were o be carried on by he farmers on boh areas* Huners wer o seewre permission from he operaor of each farm on ssiich hey hmed smd he fanner was o provide he himer wih a wrien periui o hun on his land. The Conser'mion Gomnission was o provide seed for smll food paches and -wire o fens soxne eroding diches o provide cover and sheler for he gams. The lm& Sae College Cooperaive Wildlife Research Uni wishfid o carry on research work on he raanagemesi of bob-whi on hese areas asd if he program were accepable o he fanaers o place a research -sforker in charge "who would bs a residen on he area for par of he is * Afer a diseussion h farr^rs voed o accep he plane -sshieh were presened o hem. Afer research work by he Iowa Sa College Cooperaive Tfildlif Besearoh Uni ms begun on h Experimenal bob-^hie Garas Sia,B&gem n
-14- Are&s, he boundaries were ohanp^ed o hose as shown in Fig# 1, The norh area ms increased 450 acres mking a oal of 4,789 acres and he sotih area 803 acres mking a oal of 2,974 acres or a oal of 7,71S acres in he wo areas. The oal acreage isrill be knovm hroughoa his hesis as he Game Area and when eiher of he wo separae divisions of he Gaine Area is referred o i mil be Imo-sm ae he Sorh Area or he Souh Area#
-15- I. TEGHiaQUES OF BESEASCH Th wriet began his residen researoh nsrork on he Gas Area Augus 24, 1936 and lived in he home of a farrasr in he norhern par of h Souh Area* This period of residence coninued unil Dsoeriisr 16, 1936. The?ork on he Area during his period consised of wo phases, each widely divergen from he oher ye closely relaed o he welfare and mmgemen of h bob-^ie. Hiese -ssere: (l) he invesigaion ajad observaion of bob-whie and is relaion o oher 'sildlif ; and (2) saking he acqwaiaanc of he fanasrs and becoasing familiar wih heir agriculural problems as relaed, o wildlife in general and especially o he bob-whie# Daily field noes and records 'sere kep of all imporaa observaions in he field. She wrier ms in he field daily an average of eigh hours excep for a few days. Bie ±m ms divided abou equally beween sudying he bob-isiiie and is emrironnien axad becoming acqmined wih he farsiers in order o secure desired iaforejaion and discuss and encourage game raan&geffien pracices. I uas fomd by expearienoa ha h mos favorable place o se he farmers "ssas o saee he in heir fields, There were S? farm unis on. he Area a he begimiag of he imresigaion and each of he farmers ms seen on six differen occasions. All of he daa oonoenaiag he farmers and heir agriculural pracices ms secured from iner- Tiews wi"e hem. A grsa wsl of iiro ms spen becoaiing famliar vfih he opography
16- of he whole Ajrea and ia locaing he suiable bob-whie covey ranges. Thereafer repeaed oarefl searches of he cover and feeding areas were mde for bob~"sfeie 'SJiiieh were oouiied when found. This work ms don on foo and osly on few occasions ms a bird dog used. Becsaiss of he large siz of he Area and he xrae spen -working 'wih he farmers only abou foxxt secions of he mos favoi^bl bob--whie range were sudied iaensively. Af-fcer he fall shuffle early moraing field rips wsre made on abou hree momings each Tfseek* By ezperienoe i ms found ha i ms necessary o be a he seleced locaions before he beginning of ligh ia order o hear he calls of h birds and heir fligh from heir roosing places^. A his iioe IS bob-whie eoveys were seleced for isiner survitnal sudies* fh wrier reurned o h Area Skroh 28, 19S7, and lived in he souhern, par of he Soih Area unil May 8«The res of his period unil Juas 12, 1937, ms spen living ia he home of a farmer in he norh par of hs Korh Area. Li-ying in boh he Souh and Sorh Areas sad possible a beer aoqminasice wih he people am heir problem* During he firs fiire Tseeke ox hxs period aboxx 100 hoxxrs were spen isix inensi-to field work and obssrmions ia en endeavor o check he 15 coveys seleced for "siner survival research, he res of he ime ms spen in ofrrying on h worlc "sih he f&naers, using he sajn^ asehods as during he previous auuam. Each faraer ms inerviewed a leas hree iiags during his peri<»i«since June, 1937, a oal of 76 days have been spen on he Area. Bi periods of "work have varied in lengh from a few days o hree weeks am he saim»^ dg and eshniques isere used & he longer residen periods.
-17 V. KiYSIOGRAFiilCAL DESCEIPIION OF XHE MEA fhis Bob-Tsrhie Ifemgemsn Area is locaed in cenral souhern Icwsa a 40, 41.16' S. laiude and 93*, 34»2' W, Longiude. I is of an irregular shape approxiimely six niles long and hree wiles yiide lying on fcoh sides of Seele's Creek l^hich runs hrongh-oufc mos of he Area. Hi opography of he lam is very uneren. The irregular errain of he Eaasan and lehraskan or pre-kansan Drifs lef by he las and nes o he las glaoial invasions was coteared by a layer of loess of he Grundy Series# Brown (1936). On he ops of he few nearly level uplands i is only abou wo fee hick# I has eroded on he seepes slopes whereas on he more genle slopes and in he valleys an eroded raixire of loess and drif has aecufflulaed. The elemion is abou 1,100 fee. The average mean etnperanrs which ms deermined by aking he average of he J. S» Weaher Bureau record.s a Lamojii and near Corydon, lom, is abou 49.8 F» and he aterage annual rainfall deermined in he sa?i3e iiminer is 34.SS inches. The records from hese places were used because hey are almos equidisan fro and in opposie direcions from b^ Area. When he firs perraanen seler, Allen Seo, a U. S. Governmen Indian Agen for he Fox and Sac Indians, arrired from Indiana in 1858, he seled near he presen Tillage of Tioodland. He found he land which is noisf inoluded in he bob-iafeie managemen ai^a o be an almos unbroken expanse of imber escep along a par of he eas edge in Wayne Coxmy and he aorhwdb par near he village of fiighpoin in Decaur Coyny. These pars were oov red i!?ih he ypical prairie vegeaion.
-18- li'»'ihin he mesiory of people sill living oa he area, he only laud cleared arovjad he lile Tillage of Tfoodland in 1871 was he place where he ohurch is locaed a he souheas corner of he iaersecion of he cross roads. Eh jplands were covered by he jrpicai Quercus-Hiooria Assoeiaioa and he Ulmis-Praxinus-Juglais Associes was fomd on he genle slopes and in he 'booms. The Bore imporan rees wer! red oak (Quercus rubra), vihl oak (Querous alba), burr oak (Q,uercus oaerocar^), black oak (QuBreus?Bl;iim), blackjack or jack o&k (Qaercug mrilandiea). pos oak (Quereus sellaa), laurel or shingle oak (Quereus iabrio&ria), Amerioan or -e'jhle elm (Ulmus araeriearsa), red elm (ijlmus falm), pock elm (Ulmus rageffiosa)^ heokberry (Celis occideaalis), "sdiie ash (Fraxinus americaim)^ "black ash (Fraxinus aig;ra), box elder (Acer Megmido), buckeye (Aeaoulas glabra)^ black mlmi (Juglaae ni^ra), -ehie hickory (Carya alba), ehell-bark or shag-bark, hickorj?-, (Carya oma), birch (Beiila sp. )j black willow (Salix aig;ra)s oooiwood (Populus deloides), sof naple (Acer rubrum), hard imple (Acer gaooharua), black locus (Robinia pseidoaeaeia), honey locus (Gledisia riaeanhoe). The wild fruis "which -were foimd were "sifild plxm (Rrimus spp.), -wild grape (Yiis spp.), emb apples (lials spp«}, blackberries (Hubus spp.)» raspberries (Rxa.bus spp»),srai?berries (Fragaria spp,), wild cherries (Prum^s spp.}, Kulberry (Moarus rubra), red haws (Craaegus spp.), and black haws (Craaegus spp.). fhe principal shrubs were he sraooh sutoach (Khus glabm)» rough saisaoh (Skua yghina), -wild gooseberry (Ribes spp.), black elder (Sambucus oamdeasia), haasl mx (Corylus americana), prickly ash (Zaahogylaa ab^rig&eaam), buckbriish or coral berry (Syaphoriearpog spp.), aiid smmp dog
-19- wood (Coraug amcmsn) A he presen irae he principal rees ares red elm, sof raaple, coon -wood, whie oa.k, pos oak, laiirel oak, black oak, ^hie ash, black ash, whie hickory^ aiad willow. A few -HalGu, boxelder. Sycamore, hackberry and blaok walnu rees sill renain. The more imporan naive isild fruis found now are: blackbersy, gooseberry, srawberry, plum, grape, mulberrjf, crab apple, red and black haws, and cherry, bu aone of hese are absadan. Shrubs which are presen bu are fotjjid in much less abiadanee han formerly are: samch, buckbrush, black elderj asd h&zel nu. fhia decrease of rees, shrubs and wild fruis is?ery perinen in he ooiaparison. of isildlife habia of an earlier period ivih ha of he presen* "When, he lom erriory ms opened for selemen in 1840 he pioneers began o come ino his aovaxry is large augers from he saes of Indiana, Ohio, and Eeauc^* The r Tso-5al of he foress began wih heir arrival, fhey biil heir houses of logs ajid cleared a few acres on which o raise food for heir own use. Exensive clearing did no begia -unil he coining of he railrcsad in 1871 provided a neans o mrke crops and livesock.!phis me also he iie whea he prairie began o be seled* The people living on he prairie depended upon wood for fuel and i -^as a coseaon pracice for a -wood lo in good ii^er o be purcliased for his purpose. These racs varied in sise from 11-4Q acres. One of hese 11 acre -wood los is sill in use n he Area* A cotnraon pracice ms o build a brush fence around hese wood los. The brush «as secured froa he rimings of cu iiaber and piled in a row. rail fences were biiil and frequenly hey were road of mlau. fh Biographical and Hisorical Eecord of ling*
-gogold am Beoaur Counies, lom (lb87) saes ha a grea laaojr mlnu logs were shipped o England from his Area.?ery lile of he origiml foress is lef Probably abou 10 per eea of he land on he Area is in imber, mos of Tshich is second growh. Wih he clearing of he isoodland aaid 1±ie removal of he proecive covering mos of he hanus eroded xpossing he loess and he Kaasan Drif. This eroding has caused inaiiy gullies o be ou hrough he fields ranging fros a fe-w fee o 25 fee in deph. The rapid nm-off of rainfall resuling carried large TolicBes of he himus, loess, and drif ono he lowlands and caused flooding of he Tneandering Seele's Creek. Before he removal of his proecive covering he raa-off ms regulaed so here -^ere no grea flucuaions of he level of he reek. To retrsedy his flooding a drainage dich m.s dug in he auran of ISSO. I was financed by he Seele's Creek Drainage Disrie which ms organized AugiAS 18^ 19S0, and 1E,000 worh of bonds user voed and were sold a par Sepenflser 10, 19S0. The bonds -mre o run for 10 years. The acreage of he disric is 5,307 acres. The dimensions of h dich were 12 fee wide a he op, 8 fee -eiide a he boom, and 8 fee deep* Is lengh was 7,48 sfiiles which shorened he creek bed 4.02 lailes. a.' Abou a fourh of he Area is effeced by his dminage dieh. The approxiibae dimensions of h dioh Peceinber 1, 1839 «ere 70 fee -wide a he op, ahou 6S fee wide a he boom and 12 fee deep. This drainage projec was possibly one of he conribuing facors in he lowering of he waer able of he flood plain. Ikny springs have ceased o flow and mny wells have had o be deepened several imes. Th iraporans of h relaios^ip of he differen facors relaed o
" 21 wildlife is well expressed in he qnoaion by Dr» Carl J. Drake in he Iowa Year Book of Agriculare (ISS7 p. 112), "Broadly speaking, wildlife resoraion, reforesaion, land iiilizaion, mer uilizaion, flood conrol, ins«e conrol, disease conrol, soil improvemn, plaa producion, aninal produeion, arjd oher aciviies are all an inegran par of iie imiy of conservaion and perpeuaion of naiiral resourees."
-22-71, EAELY MD PSESEIT MflVE GAME MAMMIiLS ASD UPLAID GAJiS BIHDS Yihen he whie man came o his par of he counry we presume ha he fmmd a fairly sably balanced bioic eobiaruaiy in -s^ioh he Indian had been living, lih his assumpion an endeavor has been aiade o race he imporan ohanges in ffiaramls and birds from he ia of he anrival of he firs selers o he presen. Old residens living on he Area, one of Ti^om eaae here in 1858, only 20 years afer he firs permanen seleiaen in he couny, have supplied suoh of he informaion concerning he gajne aniimls and birds foxind here in early imes. These records have been verified in isany oases by Sco (1S37) and by Du Mon (19SS). Only HaHmals and birds have been included whioh sest!»d o b aore closely relaed o h invesigaion and developmen of he coimiy. Gan Haamls^ fhe Virginia opossim (Pidelphis virriniana virgin!ana) ms presen a he ime of he arrival of he firs pioneers. Since soim of is ore serious predaors, he wolf (Csnis nubilv-s) and he wildca (Lyax rufus) are no longer found here and very few coyoes (Caais laraas) are lef, he opossums have been increasing gradually and a presen quie a nur&er are aken for heir fur. fhe Sasem raccoon (Prooyon loor loor) -sms presen a he ime of 1» The seienific verebrae m-ms oher han hose of birds were aken from Pra *s l^nual of land and fresh -waer verebrae animls of he Unied Saes, second sdiiosj^ 19S6»
-23- h early selers bu no informaion is amilabl indicaing iieir mniroers. Oaly a few of hem are on he Area now. "Weasel (Musela longiea'uda subsp.), hough o be he Minnesoa "easel (Musela loagieaida, spadix) was found in early iines. Ho reeordis of weasel on he area -were secured during ^.is research and only wo were known o been sden near i. This scarciy my have been largely brough abo\i by he farn rs* killing hem whenever possible because of heir pres«s3 d predaion on poulry. Mink (Musela Tlson) have bees presen sinoe early imes bu heir specific classificaion has no been deerrained for iiis early period. Sarly selers on he area repor ha formerly wo sizes and colors of mink were here, one being rauch larger han hose found now and almos black in color, he oaver smller and li^ brown in color, fhe few found amj are he l»lississippi Valley jniiik (Musela vlsoa leifera). During iie isemory of hose now liviiig here heir numbers haw decreased grealyj his decrease has been especially rapid d«r3.ng he las fifeen years. No doub i has been caused very largely by he oonsnjoion of he Seel Creek drainage dich. Ho permanen body of mer is found anywhere along his creek a presen. Ihe Canada oer (Lura e&aadenais canadensis) is no longer found in liis localiy. The las known oer was aken by Evere Pey, em old rapper -who has li-rod in his viciniy over 60 years. This animal was reed by dogs in he winer of 1911*1912 ii an old drif of weeds, leaves, sicks, and oi^aer debris on Seele's Creek eas of he village of liloodland, and ms sho as i ran eu of he drif. Spurrell (1917) -wroe ha early selers in Sao couny repored ha
-24 hey ook he prairi spoed elaaik (Spilogale inermpa) firs in 1858. Sinoe his is a more souhern speoies which 1ms exended is range norh aiid norhwesward i was probably presen ia sj»il munbers osi he area -vshen he firs selers arrived. While i is no aunerous is ausjers seem o be increasing. The Illinois skunlrc (Mephiis aesomslas avia) according o amilabl records, as presen during early imes and is oun& in varying nusibors from year o year a presen. A he beginning of his invesigaion no badgers (Taxidea axus) mre on iis area. In he axjumi, 1938, a leas fcvro der^s Tsrere found on he eas cenral par of he area. A fm more scaered dens wer found in ;he fall of 1SS9. Hie old rapper, Evere Pey, said he had never seen on in liis par of he counry before 1938. Sinoe his was nsosly a woded oomry rhen he selers can, i is probable ha badgers ^ere no presen. If so, i is an indicaion ha enrironirsnel facors favorable o h badger haw been esablished. Aecordiag o Soo his area had he larges populaion densiy of he norhsto plains red fox (Tilpes regalls) of any place in he sae in loves^er 19S9, 1*S4 fox per sqimre mile. The lieraure as revieipbd by S o (1937) indicaes ha is range has been zended oiih and aswai^ from is ancien range in he norhern par of he sae* I seerns o have eoae in wih he reino-ml of he in&er since older selers remesajer mfoen Bon were here. Mi old fox hmer repored ha he had firs encoimered on ssixm 1900. A grey fox, possibly he Wisconsin grey fox (Urooyoa cinereoargeneus oeyhoag) ia said o ha-ve been pleniful ashen he pioneers came. Older
-25- people in he coijinaniy rehsmber when i axised in considerable nwaibers. Oaly an oce&sional one srays ino he area ncm. During his research a few norhern coyoe (C&nis larans) were aken ia or near he area. Ih frly selers foimd he coyoe pleniful aaad i ms a grea neaace o heir iivesook especially sheep, pigs and poulry. Alhough only an oooasioml coyoe is fomd nem, one ms killed on a high- raay ia loresiber, 19S6, by a farmer deliberaely rmaing over i wih his car Tshen i beeame eosafused by he head lighs. Mo ijiiber wol-cies (Cania nubilus) have been heard of during his invbsigaion. Ofen; f/hen one is repored, upon inquiry'- i is foimd o be a norhern coyoe. Sheep could no be raised profiably in his par of he 0O«nr>' unil he pioneers reduced he nuufljers of isiber wolves and coyoes #5,iah -were here. Ho posiive records of he occurrence of he Rocky momain cougar (Felis oreg;onensis hippoleses) have been found for his localiy. Since nahie-ailed deer (Odoooilens vlrginianus) were pleniful in early i-mes i is very likely ha h cougar ms presen because he deer is one of is principal foods. Differen lieraure on is disribuion includes his par of he couaiy. IThe wildca (Lynx rufus) ms probably presen in considerable nuisfoers in early iass bu none are found a presen. Since hey prey upon lanfos, pigs, and poulry he pioneers endeavored o reduce heir nusbers. decrease in heir mural -wild foods also assised in lieir exerminaion frosi his localiy. The squheim woodchuck (Manaoa monax Tmri&x) is included because of is digging procliviies. Is abssadoned burrows provide dssas for sposrom.
-26- skihik, fox, and coonails (Sylvilagus floridaaus)* I is doubful if nuiibers of his rmmml isere presen \^eii he selers arrived. Is enemies, as lised bj? Mhoay (192S) include eagles (Haliaeeus leneoaephalus ssp.), and (Aguila ehrrfsaeog oanadeasis), wildcas, eougars or ihoubaiii lions, coyoes, and wolves, all of which were formerly presen and probably killed hem if any venured ino he counry, Yiih he xenainaion of mos of hese en&mxbs i has ooms in aad is nofw presen in large nimibers. The Franklin's ground squirrel (Ciellus fraiiklini) is iacluded because i my beoot! a facor in he nesing and rearing of he youag of groxind- 33 sirig birds, (Benne 1938). The firs speoimn known in his area ms observed in he sussmer of 19S6. Arboreal squirrels are quis numerous on he area. Speoiraens have been aken for desrnsiimion of species. All of hose observed during his research seemed o have he charaearisios of he wesern fox squirrel (Soiurus niger rufivener)* V^ih he formv abimdanee of he haael n-u, isas, hickory nu, and mlnirfc crops food oondiioas were favorable for large niaisijers of squirrels before and during he early selemens. Beaver (Casor eanadeasis) were presen when he pioneers arrived. The las kaoro. repor of beaver in or near he ax^a ms on he liqldon River in he winer of 1898-1S99 by he mpper, Bveire Bey. The subepeoifie classificaion of his beaver is no known, Pra (1935) and Anhosy (1928) in he disribuion of he beaver, sae ha he Canada beaver (Casor oanadensis oasadecsis) -m' knmm as far souh as abou S5 degrees in he Cenral and Sasera. saes. Boh sae ha he Missouri river beaver (G&sor canadensis missouriensis) xms foiasd along he Missouri Eiver from
-27- Kansas noarbh and Kes o Monana. Sco (19S7) liss h Missouri River "beaver as ooourring in he norhwesern par of he sae arsd saes ha i is possible ha he Cajiada beaver occurs in he earrene norheasern pfiwr of he sae. In view of he limiaions se by Anhony and Pra on he Missouri Siver beaver from lebraska norh and wes and heir saeinen ha he souhern limi of he Canada beaver is abou 35 degrees along he Mississippi River classificaion of his aninaal is really doubful. Th draimge from his area flows ino he Missouri Siver abou a hundred roiles eas of Kansas Ciy. This is much nearer h repored occurrence of he Canada beaver along he Mississippi Hiver han he occurrence of he Missouri Elver beaver in Nebraska. The coraaon muskra (Ondara gibehiea zibehica) ms presen along mer courses aiad in mrshes when he pioneers case. Large numbers of hem viere along Seel *«Greek unil he drainage dich vr&s dug in he auussn of 1930. Ho one ims ever obsermed or repored during his invesigaion. Th firs records of he presenee of he THhie-ailed jack rabbi (Lepus ownseadil caapanius) on he area were during he winer of 1937-1938 "When only a few were repored seen. The Msams coonail (Sylvila^us floridanus B^amsii) was probablypresen Sien he counry ms firs seled. The presence of is enemies and a woods enviroaraea before he arrival of he Tsfcie mn my have liflsied he populai«m. Wih he iaroduoion of agriculure and he reduoion of sany of is enemies, he coonail has becorae numerous. Ho records of he use of he Aiaerican elk (Cervus canadensis caimdensis) for food by he early selers were found alhough he area
-28- is wihin is early disribuion range according o Pra (1935) aod Anhony (1928). fhe -whie-ailed deer isas one of he principal foods of he pioneer. Howell and Sinih (1915 p. 14) quoe his paragraph from he Leon paper prined in 1872, "las week a Ringgold Comy isan brou^ o own 12 deer i^ich h had killed wihin a few days. Ihe venison sold readily a 9 o 10 cens a poimd.** People sill living in he coesnuniy remember -Brhea -ie deer -ms used for food. Aoeording o Anhony's species disribuion, his is he range occupied by he plains shie-ailed c^r (Odocoileus vlrginianus merourus). lo records of he presence of he plains bison (Bison bison bison) in his area have been found. If hey occurred here hey were only casuals from he main laigraion roues. Gaiae Birds fhe Easern Euffed Grouse (Booasa ambellus umbellus) was known locally as he "Tiiier or?ioods PheasanThey ymre pleniful when he early selers arrived. Several living residens remeiriber ishen hey mre presen and i^eir final disappearance which ms eaused by he removal of much iraoer, reducion of food supply, desrucion of cover ajad imfavorable huning pracices. The Greaer Prairie Chicken ('fyapaauchus eupido asasrieaaus) ms abundan in early imes. During ii»s of severe winer bliazards hey sou^ proecion in he sheler of he iafljer. "The frairie Chickens have he epiaooie", is a saen»n espied from & Leon paper prined in 1872 which is
-29- fomd in Howll aiid Sraih (1915 p. 14). During he period from abou 1908 o 1939 hey had compleely disappeared from his localiy. I22. he susmier of 1939 a farraer repored seeing a prairie chicken wih four or five young ha ranged along he norh edge of he area. Since repeaed bu unverified repors ha? been receited of heir nesing no more han en miles from he area in 1939, i is quie possible ha his repor -was correc. fhe presence of he Easern Bob-ishi (Celinus virejinianus Trirginianus) whea he piozieers case in is doubful. I is difficul in he ligh of presen day obsermions and experiences o undersand how his bird Tarliioh depends so much iipon agriculural pracices ncsw could have survi-tod he severe winers when oally dependen \ipon naural "wild foods. If i were presen i isjs have been is. snsill numbers. The bob-whie "was mos abundan before agriculural n^diods beoam so inensified. Erringon and HamersroBi (1936) sae ha i b.s -mos pleniful in Iowa abou 1S80. The ling-meked Pheasan (?hasiaaus oolehious orquaus) was firs inroduced abou 1923. I has md a f;cod increase since his inroducion in spie of unsfis huzrfcing pracices. The Easern Wild Turkey (.ISeleagris.g^llo^To silvesrie) -me presen Tshen he early selers cairj o his localiy. The large amoun of roas would have supplied food for a large populaion. Th las known -wild urkey in his localiy was a hen, killed in he suasmer of 1886. While ^feiae amamals and birds played an imporan role in he early eeonoffiio life of he people, condiions have becoia unfavorable for hem so ha he numbers of mny species have decreased very laach and so-dn hav disappeared from his localilgr.
-so- VII. EFFECT OF WMTflER COMDIflOIiS UPOH YEGETMim Upon arriiral on ii area, Augus 24, X9S6, he -wrier foimd his par of he sae o be suffering from a verjr sever drougja and a very sevbr gjrasshopper epidemic. The eoijdiioa of all vegeaion an<i h landscape was such ha i was almos impossible o describe. Bare, bladeless salks from ishich h assel had been aen isere all ha could be fovjad in. mos of Sie oom fields. lo green forage of any kind ms in he fields of har- Tmsed. gmll grain, pasures or laeadows. All smll growh ha was no seared, brown by he ho dry ^iiads had been eaen by he raveaous grasshoppers. In Haiay eases i vf&s necessary for fanners o feed heir livesock ^us as hey do in midwiner. Almos all of he springs and raany wells were dry. The -waer shorage on raaay farms - as serious. Bob-whi cover and oorey sranges -were -irery poor beeause he grasshoppers had eaen -he leaves froza almos all of h differen species of plans, leaving cover -wih no shelering leaves. The buckbrush or ooral berry, black elder, smooh smaaoh, rough suaaeh, -wild gooseberry, -wild rose (Rosa spp*), hazelbrubh, -wild plum, s-wee clover (lelilous alba), lesser ragweed (Asabrosia airbemsiifolia), greaer ragweed (Asforosia rifida), fleabanes (Bri^ron spp.), and golden rods (Solidago spp.) -sfere only bar sems -which afforded no concealmen from birds of prey or sheler from cold, fhe barrenness of -dae vegeaion and ground are shoem in Figs, 4-'8«
Fig» 5* Buckbjrueh.
Fig, 6. Thicke Fig, 7, Fei«se row
Pig. 8. SeoQnd growh brush i^sw A grea variey of.naive food plans of he bob-whie are foaid in abimdanc in norml seasons on h Area. The frai of he ild cherry, wild plism, Mid grape, poison i-sy (Mius osieodeidron), sanachs, aisd hannhome (Craaegas spp.) did no develop during he season of 1936 because of h drough, fke greaer ragweed, lesser ragweed, ssmrweed (Polygonum spp.), parridge pea (Cassia ehameorisa), fojcfeail or pigeon grass (Searia spp.), and panic grass (Banieum spp») developed a smll quaniy of poor qmliy seed, fhe onlimed food plans of h bob-^i grown on he area com (Zea Bays mr«), whea (friicum aesxtom -mr.), <^s (Airena saim mr«), cowpeas (Tigna oajan^ mr.), soy-besms (Soja aax mr»)» laille (Searia xalioa ror*), and differen mrieies of sorghaa (Sor^mi vulgara)»!ehe relaiwly small aiaoun of oom iidiieh is grown in his jslr of lom
34' ms pracically desroyed by he drough and grasshoppers. Some of he fields did BO produ.c as mxoh corn as ms planed. The cowpsas and soy-beans somed for hay mde such lile growh and inaiired so fms seed ha hey -snere no ou for hay bv. -ffier lef in he fields. Sliis was formae for he bob-'^ie«the sorgh«s wihsood he drough he "bes of any of he agriculural crops (Fig* 9) bi». did no prod-uce maah seed duriag his period, A period of -mm r&ins began SepenOser IS, and conisxaed for five weeks. During his iias he various sorghwras isade a rapid growh and maijred msch seed# The shaered whea and oas which sere no eaen by h birds duriag he sisjmer began o sprou when hese raiss oas and in a few weeks he fields looked as hey do in spring. Pig«9. Showing how sor^um Ti?ihsood drough and grasshoppers The Soreas lespedeaa (liespedega sipalaeea) did well in he early par of he groking season bu mos of i T?as killed by he drough.
-35- Th smll amoun lm li-red reseeded and protided som food for he bohwhi ^ li'fhen siaer carae -TOgeal? oondiions had been changed very lile beoauee he abundan rains in he auum cai! oo lae o b of arsy merial benefi o mos game foods and eoter. The early par of he 1956-19S7 winer was very raild and open. Early in January a raher hea-sy non-drifing snow fell* Almos itesmibdiaely be^en one and wo inehes of slee fell on he snow and his ms follc^ed a once by a rain while he emperaure m.s a h freesing poin. Jus as his rain ceased h -wind changed o he norh and he emperaure dropped o near zero. Afer his he enire landscape ms eo-vered ^h snow and ice o a deph of six o eigh inches. This icy ems as so solid ha li'vesock and even rucks did no break hrough. This ioe remained from January 5 o ilaroh S, 1937. Tiie i& had parially meled on son of he sou^fch slopes by March 6. On his dae he wrier spen 14 hours on h area miking over 18 Biiles because h roads were so uaiddy i ms impossible o use a oar. Ihen he s^rier reurned o he area March 28, 1937, he landscape was so barren ha scarcely any kind of -rageaive cover as visible. Even mos of h saall, leafless seiab were lying fla on h ground. The few leaves -which irnd been on h shmbbery and hiekes afer h severe drough and grasshopper epideaie had fallen o he gromd from he pressure of h snow, fhe sems of he greaer rag'sneed aiad h shrubbery remained sanding bu were so barren of leaves ha hey offered very lile conceala^n for ^aae. I&jch snow and is isere o be seen on he norh slopes and in h iaber and diches. Se'sains of aany old snow drifs -mre sill visible. The spring rains be^m April 1, bu T(?eah r coninued very cold wih
-36- he ground freezing eacjh nigh. By April 11, h days -^ere beeoiaiiig a lile mrmer and by April 20^ he firs grass shoos had begm o appear hrough he ground* The growh ms very rapid and in hree days a a disance he ground appeared greea. The aprico rees wsre in bloobi by April 22. The wild grape vine began o pu forh heir buds by April 26 end -were in bloom by Say 27. In general he arri"ml of spriag ms delayed beween hree and four weks for his localiy. HoweTer, -when isarm weaher did arrive oojaiiioiis -were so fairorable ha all vegeaion had mde up he delay in beginning growh by June 10. She suffimer of 19S7 mis a very favorable growing season. Farmers repored agriculural crops were he bes ia his localiy ha hey had been for five years. Grasshoppers, #iioh had eaused such serious dessrucion in 1936 did lile dasage his year in spie of he fac ha he concenraion of gmsshopper eggs per imi area ia Decaur Gomy was repored o be among he highes in he sae during he?iner of 1928-19S7, Dr* Carl J«Drake am George C. Decker (Unpublished daa). A number of facors assised in reducing he ibillioas of grasshoppers ha hached. Two periods of heavy, cold, beaing rains ease ia Sy Jus a a ii -when large numbers of newly haohed hoppers were emergixig from he ground, Goimless lile grasshoppers -were observed in he fields jus previous o eaoh of hese periods and afer he rains very few ould be found. Lae in May and early la June, a period of very husdd weaher occurred which jmde condiions favorable for pamsies and fmgus o kill umxy hoppers* A very couplee couny Md org^wiizaion was forii d for he disribuion and use of poison bran -which "ma of loaerial assisance where seeded. Gmssshoppers ha survi-rod his series of ad-verse eondiions found an ab-undanee of ender -wild plan growh
fcap hsee, from migraing o he agrieulural fislds in search of food, Sei:ieiT3>er 8, 19S?, he conras in he <regeaioa vd.h ha of 19S6 ms alraos lanbelietaljle. All pl&n life which 2md been soned and dvarfed in 1936 had md, a mos luxurian growh in 19S7«Large areas of greaer ragweed iiere found along fence rcrss, diches and on fallow gromd, grcswlag o escepioeal heighs in he lo'^ places (Figs. lo-ls). The lesser ragweed reached an uaiisual heigh is almos every suiable place (Figs. 14 and 15). The siaarfcw&ed (Fig. 16) was j\js as Iixurian as he rag??6ed3 bu did no grow ia such abmdaxice. Slough grass (gpariaa Biohauxiana) mde ari exeopional rank gro%vh ia he few inarshy places \Fig«17 )»
-38 Fig. 10. Greaer ragweed a he edge of S.V. upland field Fig«11. Greaer ragweed along a road
.39- ( i I Fig. 13, G3F«a r ragweed along a road
Fig. 14«Lesser ragweed on fallcre? groum IS. Lesser ragweed oix iplaed ground
Fig. 16» Showing heighi; of smrfcweed
-42^ Pig» 17. Slo-agh gmss on a sarshy uplaad rasadow
All agirieuluml crops were abote a'^rage especially he com (Figs# 18-20). The differea -rorieies of sorghm mde an. exoellea growh and mured larg amouns of liig^ qualiy seeds (Figs. 21-2S). Fig. 18. Ei^ salks wih 16 ears of cora
-44~. IS. Shewing com sanding in field asm * 1^*** Fig» 20* Shocked oorn
Fig» 21» (Jpohoffia variey of sorghum Fig. 22» Gu grohoaa showing large, abundan ss d heads
46 Fig. 23. Grohom shoariag heigh of shocks Wih he larga assouus of mi-ro foods and agriculural crops, ^iss and seed eaiag birds had an abmdano of food hroughoi he -winer of 19S?«"1958«Good oov r of all ypes -ssas provided for hem during he Tsry lid Id and open -wiiier* In March ISSS^ isheii -fdae farmers began o prepar he ground for spring crops he appearance of he ra^k weeds afer he mner are shoim in Figs. 84-27.
-47- Pig. 24. Greaer ragweed Pig. 25. Lesser mgraesd
Fig* 6. Slough grass Pig«27 Weed am grass misrinjre
-49- In Jime, 1958, h miv plan growhs seearod o compare favorably sdh hose of he previous year, bu afer he erops -were har-vesed he yield of corn for Decaur Coiniy a-reraged one-hird less han in 1937, oas one-fifh less and whea he sasffl (lowa Year Books of Agriculure, 1937 and 1938), The decrease was probably caused by insuffieien moisure a criical periods and by insec injurj'-, principally chinch bugs. Alhough he naive foods and cover for game had no made he raiak growh of he previous susaaier, an abundance of boh had developed and mured. The winer of 1938-18S9 m&s even more mild han ha of 1937-19S8. This localiy received very lile jaoiswe from December o &rch whioh -eras an unusually -sife monh wi-fch a rainfall of 4.14 inches. "syhen he fam rs pu in heir erops during My, 19S9, i me vejry diy bu June isas so sre ha much of he lo ground could no be properly culivaed, fhe agriculural crops were equal o hose of 1938 excep in he fields ha had received an excess of moisure. Haive gassa food and cover were as pleniful as in 19S8 and equally as good. Wildlife on he ai^a began he Tsdirfcer of 1939-1940 wih an abundance of good food ajaed cover au during January and Febsniary i was buried under deep snm.
-50- YIII. AGEIGULTUEAL CROPS AM) BOB-SHITE MAKAGEMSUT During he crop seasons of 1937, 1S38, aad. 195S & crop ijweaory ms obained in he auum by xasans of a personal iafcerviets -wih each of he far533ers on he area. Each farmer repored he oal niieiber of acres of land which he was farming and he mimer and exen in -sshich he land was diiridsd among he differen erops liiich he had grown he curren season. Kie average sis of he indi-vidsal fenced fields ms esimaed by he wrier o be abou 40 acres. SoT! ii?bs his plo of ground would be seeded o wo or more differen kinds of crops. The larger enclosures isrer usially pasures ishioh ooaaiaed 40, 80, or even 120 acres. The smller plos Tfirere usually planed wih sorghm, raille, soybeans or sora oher similar orop ssfiiieh was beneficial o he bob-#iie ishen properly mnaged* Com Hie firs agriculural erop in imporanse from a moneaiy sandpoin ms oom (fable 1). fhe differences in he percenages beiseen. he norh and ie souh area and also beween owi r and enan operaors my be explained by a persea^l knowledge of he economic condiion of sohj of he owner operaors in he souh area. The higher pereenages of heir gromsd were seeded by owner operaors in i^e souh area han in he norh in an effor on he par of soaae farmers o realize oe greaes possible ash reim fro he soil in he shores iias «ih iile consideraion, for he ielfare of he land in order o ry o pay off deb obligaions in an effor o keep from loosing heir farms. Ko parfcio«lar reason is knowa for -Uie larger percenage of com plajiaed by enan operaors in he
-51- Table 1. ffsage Disribuion of T^** Qgaer Operaors ; ' Teaaai i i Norh Area «Souh Area Toal Area Norh Area Semi «Crop Ho. of «Per Ho. of Per lo.of : Per -* Ho. of Per STo.of Tear «Acres Cen Acres Gen Acres : Cen Acres Cen, Acres f Cora «* : : «- 1937 s 249 : 10.24 I 173 i 21.57 422 : 13.05 i 359 19.12 261 19S8 : SOS 11.7S 157 19. S8 462 13.60 «365 18.04 261» 19S9 287 10.60 95 3 18.20 382 11.83 : 335 : 17.53 338 Oas : 1937 : 179 9 7.36 33 i 4.11 212 6.56 123 6.55 157 19S8 i 266 5 10.24 90 11.22 356 10.48 194 * 9.5S 175. «19S9 J 169 3 6.24 36 6.90 205 6.35 189 : 9.89 187 «Whea «: 1937 134 * S.52 i 0 0.00 134 4.14 «0 0.00 12 19S8 121 4*66 i 0 0.00 121 3.56 : 0 0,00 0 19S9 «79 2.9g i 0 0.00! 79 2.45 I 0 0.00 8» «} 19S7» 101 I 4.16 0 0.00 s 101 i 3.12 : 0 I 0.00 25 19S8 i 22 * «.85 4 5.50 : 26 «.77 «10 J.49 0 19S9 «10 a «.37 0 : 0.00 s 10.31 0 : 0.00 17 «* l^adov i - i «19S7 s 3S6 { 14» 4 144 17.96 5 SOO i 15.47 256 13.63 405 19S8 I 295 s 11.36 * 142 17.70 1 437 s 12.86 s 259 12.80 315 19S9 s 349 : 12.89 i 105 20.11 s 454» 14.06 i 356 18.63 347 * Fiasurs s * «s s : 1937 1339 «55.08 s 420 : 52.37 ; 1759 54.41 1116 $ 59.42 1025 19S8 «IS 2 s 57.88 i 393 J 49.00 J 1895 55.77 i 1112 54.97 1273 19S9 1612 s 59.55 J E57 3 48.23 J 1879 58.17 } 936 s 48.98 1403 Ser^im s 1937 a «16» 66 «15 1.87! 31 * 9 i «.96 : 24 1.28 & 1938 m 23 B.89 i 2 «.25 : 25.74 30 J 1.48 46 19S9 13 *.48 0 «0.00 s 13.40 «19 «- 1.00 10 «Mille 9 1 : : i 19S7 : 11 45 5.62 : 16 *».49 0» 0.00 0 1938 «0 O.QO C 9 a 0 0.00 s 0 : 0.00 s 5.25 0 193 a - 0 s 0.00 0 0»00 { 0 0.00 * «0 : 0.00 0 Leguraes «««s 1937 : 36 I 1.4S S 4 s.50 s 40» U24 i 0 «0.00 g 1938 62 2.39 s 2.1 25 I 64 : 1.88 11 i.54 : Z2 1939 «132 4,87 i 19 «3 3.64 s isl 4*67 66 3.45 76 Fallflsr 1 i» i 9 a ; 1937 10 :.41 : 8 1.00 : 18.56 i 0 «0.00 127 1938» 0 : 0.00 «12 1.50 J 12 «.35 57 1.83 0 1939 57 2,10 10 1.92 ; 67 «2.07 10.52 36»