The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1880-09-15
The Seed wheat Question.
DUCK CREEK, Texas, Sept.

To the Editor of tho Herald.
The Dallas HERALD of July the Goth ha
an article in the agricultural department OF
wheat culture, or "Let Us Improve 0uI
| Wheat" in which the editor of that depart
mont consures the farmers of north Toxa:
and intlmates that they are altogether to
blame for the poor crops Of wheat grown
and harvested in this country. He says; 1T
is pertinent to ask just here the cause of our
failure to raise rs good quality ms they do in
states Just north of us. The idea that there
is something lacking in the soil or in the eli
mate is too absurd, frivolous and ridiculous
for discussion" Whenever the editor be-
comes wheat.growor practically, he will
then DO able to SEQ that ii is much easier to
farm in theory than in practice. He will
then see that man may plant, but that an-
other power greater than msn gives the in
crease. Whenever man can control sunshine
and shower, rust and blight, and many other
things, then will no DO able to insure q
good crop of good wheat every year, and
not before. The cause of failure
to secure good crop OF
wheat every year does not lie in the same
direction. Some seasons the want of rain at
tho proper time is the cause of u poor yield
of what; often too much rain will cause too
much growth at the wrong time Of year OF
tho stalk, and the consequence is m abund-
ance of straw and small yield of grain, which
is apt to be OF poor quality. 1t the gentle
man will think for one moment--if he has
kept himself posted rs to the general failures
of tho wheat crop in this country for the pasi
few years-ho viii find that that devastating
element known as rust, has been the cause OF
SO much bad wheat in the country. If he
will tell us how to rid the country Of wheat
rust we feel assured that farmers will take
hold with renewed energy, and better
wheat will find its way to market, but SC
long as wheat Is damaged and killed every
year by the rust, just SO long will
We hear tho cry of failure
We cannot believe that the cause Il attributed
to the poor cultivation, nor do we believe our
farmers ara so ignorant of their own interests
as to 20 to tho trouble to prepare ground
and then SOW worthless seed thereon. Some
may be compelled to sow poor seed or none.
through the inability TO procure better, but |
notice Us the sowing season draws near, there
is considerable enquiry made about wheat
for seeding purposes, The majority of our
farmers saved last fall the big Mediterranean.
which year or two ago made such famous
yields, and which seemed secure against rust,
but this year it yiclde to the ravages of the
rust as readily as the 'red May trash" there.
BY, eliminating the prospects of many
farmers in an utter failure.
AS good y yield and as GOOD
quality of wheat rs havo ever seen made
in Texas was made on land badly poisoned
with weeds and trampled and rooted up by
stock through thick and thin the winter
through and until late in tho spring. There
was no rust that year and everything worked
favorably TO wheat, which in turn paid A
good yield, regardless of cultivation or any
other attention that might be advocated rs
being necessary to obtain good wheat
Thirty or thirty-one bushels to the acre was
the yield of the above mentioned piece,
while some others went, | think, as high ma
forty bushels to the acre. but that was an ey.
ceptional year, and goes to prove very con.
clusively that no amount Of care will ipsure
a fine crop of wheat, though the soil 10 nil
appearances may be perfect and the climate
suitable. Then we conclude that the gentle.
mans reasoning is somewhat unjust towards
the farmers of north Texas
MARION MURPHY.