The Beaufort tribune and Port Royal commercial. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1877-1879, 1877-01-04
Extraordinary Wheat Culture.

Bulletin says: 1t has been my good for
tune during the past six months to wit
ness the growth and yield of wheat,
planted and cultivated in way new to
most people, of which I propose to give
you statement. D. o. Bissell, who re-
sides in Goose Lake valley, Modoc coun-
ty, California, is practical as well as n
theoretical farmer. He holds that the
old mode of wheat raising-that is, OF
sowing from 100 to $50 pounds of grain
per acre-is wrong, contrary to the true
principles of agriculture, an unnecessary
waste of seed and exhaustive to the soil.
In conversation with aparty OF friends
(farmers) he presented that proposition,
stating further that he could raise forty
bushels of wheat to the acre from one
pound of seed. The idea being secuted
as impossible he offered to wager 500
that he could do it. The wager was ac-
cepted, whereupon Mr.. Bissell, on the
eighth day of last April, proceeded toput
his proposition to the proof by having
one-eighth of an acre carefully measured
in the presence of witnesses. 1t was
subdivided into spaces about nineteen by
thirty-seven inches apart, and two ounces
of seed were planted, the seed having
been carefully weighed, the grains
counted, and the ground spaced so as to
take but one seed in each place. 1t was
then irrigated and cultivated like Indian
corn.
Now for the result as harvested in the
latter part of September. The number
of heads per stool was from sixty to 11s
well developed heads. send yeu a
sample stool, one of many from the plat,
which contained 1876 heads, 11S of which
were fully developed. The number Of
grains per head in this stool was eighty.
Over one-half yielded 100 grains each.
Owing to an accident Mr.. Bissell failed
to get the accurate weight or measure
ment, but making all due allowance for
that wasted the yield was ten bushels, or
at the rate of eighty bushels per acre,
forty more than the proposition called
for.
Now compare the above result with an
average crop sown broadcast. am as
sured that the average number of heads
per stool in an average field of wheat,
sown broadcast, is not over five of forty
grains each, which would be less than
thirty-three bushels per acre, if all the
seed grew. What becomes of the seed !?
Tn the field where this plant grew. there
was sown broadcast at about the same
time 100 acres. 1t was irrigated, as WAS
the other, and harvested at the same
time. 1t was put in good shape, had
the best of care, and at an expense OF
$500 for seed alone. The yield was not
over twenty bushels per acre, or 1900
bushels for the crop. Mr.. Bissell in
forms me that he will plant thirty-fve or
forty acres next spring, using the seed
planter and cultivator instead of the
broadcast sower. The facts I have given
can be we'll attested, if desired. Should
any further information be wished it will
be furnished by addressing D. o. Bis
sell, Willow Ranch, Modoc county,
California.
I have written the above facts in the
interest of the agriculturists of the coun-
try; have been thus particular in details
hoping others may be stimulated thereby
to profit by the information given. To
the Changers would say, make this
method Of grain raising the subject Of
discussion in your lodges and trial on
your farms A few successful trials,
such as witnessed by the writer, would
revolutionize the mode of grain growing
in this country and remove from the
farmer the heavy burden of annually
providing 100 to $50 pounds of seed per
acre for his crop when one and one-half
to two pounds, allowing for wastage in
planting, would be all that need be re-
quired. With such system how soon
the mortgages would be lifted from the
farms-the incubus of debt crushing the
farmer into the soil he cultivates; how
soon it would be abolished