Bell, Hershel 1985-05-01
Hershel Bell discusses his career in range management with the United States Soil Conservation Service in West Texas.
General Interview Information
Interviewee Name: Hershel Bell
Additional Parties Recorded:
Date: May 1, 1985
Location: Amarillo, Texas
Interviewer: Richard Mason
Length: 1 hour, 40 minutes
Abstract
Tape 1, Side 1:
Background,
b: New Mexico, 1906,
Father to New Mexico, 1884,
Ranching,
Family to Arizona,
Return to New Mexico, 1915,
Ranching, 1915-1923,
Ranching in Oregon Mountains,
Climate,
Water supply,
Acreage,
Hereford Cattle,
Problems,
Sale,
Grasses,
To Texas,
Employment as Tech Farm Superintendent,
Texas Tech Campus, circa 1927,
Texas Tech Farm, circa 1927-1932,
Size,
Tenants,
Work animals
Tape 1, Side 2:
Texas Tech Farm (continued),
Dairy barn headquarters,
Expansion,
Equipment,
Crops grown,
Livestock,
Farm laborers,
Poultry division,
Elimination of tenants,
Grass pasture,
Dairy industry,
Increase in Agricultural faculty,
Trees planted along 19th Street,
Dr. Bradford Knapp,
Cotton crop, 1930,
Diversification philosophy,
Sorghum and Sudan crops,
First tractor, 1930,
Resulting improvements,
Dr. Knapp (again),
Division of acreage among departments,
Competition,
Importance of farm to Texas Tech,
Elimination of Tenants (again),
Care of donated livestock,
Planting of feed crop,
Labor
Tape 2, Side 1:
Labor (continued),
Farm staff,
Agricultural faculty (again),
Effects of depression,
Soil Conservation Service (SCS), 1935,
Bell's employment,
Early duties,
Soil survey,
Range evaluation and conservation,
Demonstration projects,
Farmer acceptance,
Range programs,
Grazing conditions,
Dallas area,
National grasslands; Dalhart, Texas,
Seed production,
Acceptance by ranchers,
Problems,
San Angelo, Texas,
San Angelo, Texas,
Surplus water development,
Grass management,
Brush control
Tape 2, Side 2:
Eras in development of SCS,
Demonstration projects,
Conservation districts,
Development of District programs,
Conservation defined,
Difficulties in education,
Strong West Texas districts,
Hemphill County,
Oldham County,
Hemphill County (again),
Level of regard for range resource,
South African range practices,
Major accomplishments of SCS,
Influence on land management
Range Dates: 1884-1985
Bulk Dates: 1927-1985
Access Information
Original Recording Format:
Recording Format Notes:
Transcript:
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