The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1882-05-04
WHEAT RAISING IN MINNESOTA
Some Results OF the Observations Of An Old
Farmer-Wheat Failures Not . Matter of
Soil but of UnfaYorahla Circumstances

Some Results Of the Observations Of An Old
Farmer-Wheat Failures Not Matter of
Soil but Of Unfavorable circumstances.
ZuMBRorA, April 25-The question of wheat
raising in Minnesota is one of great interest
and importance to the prosperity of the State,
and not to be disposed of too hastily in tho
negative, from insufficient data Time will
demonstrate facts, but nothing has occurred yet
to establish anything positively. 1 will look
ut the question independently of other branch
es Of farming industry, whether the raising of
other grains, or of stockraising, or of dairy
products. Mixed farming is unquestionsbly
the safest and most profitable in any we'll set
tied country To put all ones efforts and trust
in one department of farming is not wise or
SAFE especially for small farmers with home
steads and small capital.
Upon the matter Of wheat and its prospects
much speculation is INDUCED in by amateur
farmers, editors and practical farmers, as to
the causes Of the partial failure Of the wheat
crop, especially in southern Minnesota. MANY
of the conclusions reached seem to show par
tial knowledge Of the facts aud a disposition to
draw conclusions from narrow premises It is
certain that in southern Minnesota raising
wheat has come to be considered risky bust
ness. 1t is a fact that the average yield per
acre has been much less for the last four Years
than formerly. It is fact that for twenty
years a failure Of the wheat crop in Good
hue county was not considered worth thinking
about, good crop was considered so GER
tain. Taking the average of the last twelve
years the yield has been fifteen and one half
bushels IN my own case. The crop Of 1858
was as bad a failure as of any one year of the
twenty-five. That year the seeding was very
late, the weather hot with FREQUENT rains
through the season. The wheat was sadly
shrunken, and some pieces were not cut The
area was small, however, and the result not
important and soon forgotten in subsequent
bountiful harvests July has always been con-
sidered as the important time With favorable
weather from July to harvest we were pretty
sure of No. l wheat, whether the yield was
twelve or twenty-five bushels. Ashower after
July has boen enough always to give some
farmers the blues. We have seen wheat wilt
with heat and drought IN July, soon it covered
with red rust from the same cause, aud yet
turn out No wheat Wheat will blight with
wet and warm weather while filling; there is
no doubt of this--leaving the insects. espe-
While change of locality in seed is good, rota-
ton of crops good thing, manuring and sum-
mer following good, thorough cultivation q
help, vet after all, the weather at the critical
time of filling is the chief element of success.
Comparing the wheat of 1858 with that of
1877, the first made -four hardly eatable, the
last weighed sixty-one to sixty three pounds
per bushel and Welded twenty-Shree to thirty
bushels to the acre.
Taking the wheat crop Of the last twelve
years, and comparing results, think the con-
cusion is inevitable that the deterioration Of
the soil has nothing to do with the failures.
give the results and facts Of importance
from memoranda made at the time. from brief
notes of each years operations of all the diff
ferent branches of farm work, kept for refer
ence and as guide to profit:
l87O-Seeding from April IA to May 6. Weather
hot and dry last OF june Yield, 19 is bushels to
the acre.
ls7l-seeding April II to May 4. Yield. IS
bushels.
ls72-seeding April to May 2. Yield, 10 is
ls7s-seeding April to May 4. Yield, 2oa
bushels.
l874-seeding Aori! 10 to May 4. Hot and dry
July 81. Yield, 1919 bushels.
l875-Seeding April Is to April 30. Snow May
l, two inches: favorable season all through. ex-
cept wet harvest and stacking. Yield, % bushels.
beaten down by heavy rain last fall. Yield, IL
bushels, shrunk.
ls77-seeding April 10 to May 5. No rain at
all during harvest or stacking. and none after July
pounds.
1s7s-Seeding March IA to April G. Good
stand June 1; prospect fattering to July 8:
Yield, 2 bushels, SO to SO pounds
1s79-seeding March 81 to April 20. July to
a, heavy showers: scalding intervals. Yield, IL
bushels.
1sso-seeding April II to April "a. June L,
6ne prospect; heavy rains July 10 to 12; chinch
bugs or blight July "a Yield, IA bushels.
l8S1-Seeding April to April %. June Is,
wheat thin, otherwise favorable: July II, wheat
turning. believed to be chinch bugs Yield, 10
bushels, light
| conclude, therefore, that, the chinch bug
aside, we are liable to have as good wheat in
the future as in the past and that there is no
reason yet to put Minnesota among the States
where wheat cannot be raised at profit
J. A. TEACHER