The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1874-09-24
Wheat Culture and Good Pasturage.

wheat culture ana G00u HaSturnSes
There is no cereal that can be acclimated
throughout as wide latitudinal belt rs wheat
It has been successfully grown within the frigid
zone. and thence through The whole breadth o1
the temperate zone to localities within the
tropics. Growing as it does on different soils
and in different climates, the varieties OF this
valuable grain are almost numberless. The in
fuence of climate, culture and soil in produc'
ing varieties of wheat is known to every intel
| ligent agriculturist.
Inasmuch as certain regions and localities
by nature seem to be chiefly adapted to its
culture, and afford no competing valuable pro-
ducts in those localities, such as the cotton
belt in our Southern States, that produce as
valuable and remunerative crops, agrlculturlsts
have given but little attention to the cutlva-
ton Of wheat, and may be said in general to
know but little about it. A planter who puts
in full crop Of cotton, knows that the wheat
harvest comes at tnie when his cotton crop
demands all the labor under his control.
Those in the upper portion of the cotton belt,
who were before the war in the habit of raising
their own stock and provisions, found it nee
essary to abstain from putting in a full crop of
cotton if they cultivated enough of Indian
corn and wheat, and other cereals to meet their
domestic wants.
Those Joint farmers and planters, who made
it an unalterable rule to raise their own sup
plies, while they did not handle "big money
every year, were, as class, the most solvent
and solidy prosperous of the shareholders
prior to the war. Since the war recuperati0n
has been more steady among them than among
the planters whose crops have been almost eX-
clusivey cotton, and who have depended on
purchased provisions to feed themselves, their
laborers and stock.
Experience is demonstrating that sooner or
later the world will have to depend chiefly
upon the mixed farmers and planters CT the
upper region of the cotton belt for its supplies
of American cotton. A conviction of this
truth is fast forcing itself upon the farmers in
this region Already there has been vast
increase of the cotton product, at the hands of
white labor, while there has been great fall
ing off of the product in the more sultry allu-
vial sections further South.
AS the temptation is very great to risk de-
pendence upon an exclusive cotton crop, there
is great danger of the farmers, who have
heretofore raised their own provisions, aban-
doning that judicious, and, IN the long run,
only safe policy of raising their provisions
and betting their whole years labor upon the
yield of cotton alone.
This temptation, if yielded to, is fraught
with evil, ard evil continually to the: land-hol-
der and his postcrity, and is prohibitory OF
enterprise in manufactures. Any population
of agriculturists, who do not raise their own
food, under the free labor system, are at the
mercy of monopolists and money kings, who
can make corner upon cotton or the currency
that moves it to market, whenever they will to
do so. No community can expect manufac-
lures to be built in their midst whose agricul-
turists do not raise food with which to feed
themselves, and surplus sufficient to afford an
economical living for the operatives engaged in
manufacturing.
White people in general require more of
wheat bread and less of Indian meal bread
than negroes. Hence, in providing for the
subsistence of the former, the cultivation OF
wheat is matter of prime Importance. When
labor has to be hired to cultivate it, crop Of
Indian corn is not as remuneratiye as one OF
wheat Ordinarily, one acre of wheat will
furnish more substantial subsistence than an
acre of maize. Maize requires the presence OF
the hired labor on the land most of the year.
Wheat requires his presence only twice year,
to wit: at seed-time and harvest. Therefore
every fact touching the successful raising OF
wheat in the upper portion of the cotton belt
is of great Importance to the people living
there. They should at once give tmuch study
and investigation, with reference to the best
means of securing a certain yield OF an annual
supply of it, adequate beyond peradventure
to meet the home demand. To this end they
should observe and experiment in each locality
until a variety of wheat is developed or dis
covered, suited to and acclimated in it, Few,
perhaps aware, that by careful selection
of seed fir year to year, how certainly and
easily an acclmated wheat that will seldom
disappoint the expectations of the farmer, can
be developed. Few are aware of the dlsas-
trous seusiliveness Of many varieties OF wheat
to a change of climate and soil.
Every farmer who has by experiment sue
ccedcd in finding variety Of wheat that sell
dom disapponts him as to certainty ana guam
tity of yield, should stick to it and cndcaror to
improve it. This he can do by carefully sclec-
ting every year before he cuts his wheat, choice
heads for seed, to be sown in an experimental
patch until he has secured variety with
capability of yield that shall insure adequate.
remuneration for the labor and expense OF
sowing and harvesting it.
If can he demonstrated that beef and mutton
are more economical articles of food than pork.
They are preferred by most white people.
Hence, it is important that farms be so I'M.
proved and cultivated rs to afford plentiful and
convenient pasturagc, and that small grains OF
all kinds receive moro attention than hereto
fore in our section.
If the people in the upper portion of the
cotton belt wish to secure permanently the ad-
yantages of eirsituation, the hints here given
are Of Importance, and I'LL should give more
or less of heed to thcm.-GrcenrHc Ne1rS.
REMEDY FOR RHEUMATlSM:-A patent