The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1879-09-25
Running to Wheat.

IT seems pretty sure that Western
farmers have become crazy over wheat.
Three consecutive full crops have been
raised, and European necessities have
called for the surplus at good prices.
Last fall there was greater area of
winter wheat sown in the West than
ever before. The winter was all that
could have been desired. In very
many instances the crop grew right
along under the snow. This snow
melted gradually, and was absorbed
by the earth. The spring generally
was dry, the crop grew right along,
and the spring was altogether favor
able for seeding to spring wheat; sue
ceeding weather was also favorable,
both for autumn sown grain, and for
spring sown grain-rather dry for oats
and barley, but not SO much so, not
withstanding the fears of many, as to
seriously cause even these grains to
shrink materially. For winter wheat,
the weather could not have been bet
ter, and timely rains saved the spring
wheat crops, and caused other cereal
grains to give a fair yield. The con-
sequence is that the winter wheat crop
has been fully equal, over immense
areas of the West, to that of the most
favored countries, where the most
careful cultivation is given. Older
countries maintain fertility by thor
oueh drainage, the most careful cult
| walton, and extensive manuring, both
by application of barn-yard manure
and compost, and commercial fertiliz-
ers. In new countries wheat is natu-
! rally the first crop raised. The sod is
| especially adapted to the crop. The
soil is new, and the crop harvested al
| ways sells for cash. 1t is also one Of
| those crops that will, on account of
| the price it brings, bear transportation
for longer distances than most others.
Hence it is not strange, in all new
| countries, that wheat should be extern
sively raised as the first three or four
| crops to be taken from the ground.
We do not believe in the cry that the
cultivation of wheat or any of the other
crops will in few years destroy the
fertility of the West, the Northwest and
the Southwest. There is too much in
| herent fertility in its depth and compo-
sition. If the soil has a proper rotation
it will continue to produce indefinitely
as to the more fertile regions, as it has
for the last forty years. If run to one
particular crop, the end of course must
be deterioration, as to that crop, and
the land must then have rest and
manure.
What we set out to say, however,
was that the good crops of wheat for
the last three years would have the
effect to cause farmers to go wheat
crazy. There were indications tending
that way last season. The great crop
this year has intensified this feeling,
and we have information from all over
the West that much larger crop will
be sown this fall, even than last season.
The soil as rule is in excellent condi-
ton to prepare for wheat, even on land
generally not considered adapted tt
the crop. Soils usually too wet for the
crop are now dry. The fear is that
much wheat will be sown on such lane
that can only end in failure, unless we
have winter and succeeding spring
quite as remarkable as the last This
can hardly be expected. Our advice
then, to all who are proposing to SOW
wheat this season is to consider
the situation carefully. DO not
sow on soil that has been s'run tc
wheat,' and above all do not sow OF
land wet or that is liable to heave. The
farmer is considered to know the specia
requirements for each crop he cult
! Yates, and their adaptability to certain