San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1878-10-19
G FARM ,rIoJp1,cys!

more WHEAT TO THE, AcRE.-That
the 10, Is, even 80 bushel wheat crops
are not the largest that any good wheat
soil is capable of producing, is a fact
! patent to every intelligent farmer; yet
thousands go on raising these compare
lively Improbable crops, even though
the means are at hand for largely in
Ecreasing them. 1t is really quite within
the possibilities of any farm suitable for
raising wheat at all to grow an average
crop Of over 80 bushels per acre; and
40, so, and even 60 bushels may reason.
ably be expected under proper culture.
Such crops are,rather the rule than, the
exception on good English wheat farms,
but are quite rare in this country. The
cost Of fitting the soil, Of seed, Sowing,
interest on the land, and the humber
and value of the stock and implements
required are the same for small as for
large crop; and the cost of harvesting
is but little more in the latter case. So
that the difference between q 40 and a
30.bushel crop is nearly all profit. But
how, shall this extra 20 bushels profit
per acre be gainedP By theu use of suf-
ticient manure, to make the increase.
The fact that extra manuring makes an
addition to the crop whichyis nearly all
profit, is a fact seldom realized by
farmers; bit such is the case, as most
will admit, after considering the above
statements. SThe spreading Of six cords
of stable manure rpn two acres
of land may not produce q crop Which
will more than pay-the expenses of its
production; put the same manure on
one acre and the chances are that Just
as much wheat will be harvested, and at
little more than half the cost. For. the
generality of farmers it would be a, safe
rule to use what stable manure they
have on half the area it is now applied
to. But to get the largest return from
the farm, and to utilize every acre, is IA
laudablc ambition of every good farmer.
To do this he can not depend-as many
doom the natural fertility of the soil,
or on stable manure; but he must re
sort to artificial fertilizers, which can
now be bought with safety of reliable
dealers, with reasonable certainty of
getting what. is bargained for. This
piecing out of the farm and soil re-
sources by the use of honest mahufac-
tured manures is working a revolution
in American agriculture, and. in no de-
partment may it be better considered
than in grain farming. In the use of
these fertilizers, however, the same rule
applies as with agriculture that while
a certain small amount per acre may
only produce a crop large enough 10 |
pay expenses, half as much more may |
cause handsome profit. We would |
not advise, however, that a novice in 1
the use of fertilizers should,go to large |
expense at first, but recommend small /
though boldness, may ,per-
haps lead to a surprising success. |
When practicable the farmer may
make a good wheat manure > Of |
900 lbs of superpbospha Of lime
containing ammonia Il. e., made
of fresh bone), or the, same amount of
fine bone composted for three months; !
this for use on an acre. Apply also
not mixing the two-all the unleached
that can be got. An occa-
sional liberaldressing Of lime will i'm
prove wheat land which IS already rich
in organic matter. But to grow wheat
II a profit, the question Of fertility Is not
the only pointto be considered. In al
the older States, wheat-growing. to be
requires the best kind Of
farming. The best seed must be Sc
Iected; for with poor seed, the best cul-
ture practised can not produce a gocd