The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1883-09-27
[For the Marietta Journal.
THE WHEAT PLANT.
IA Discussion at the Phoenix Agricultural
Club, Cobb County

"a Discussion at the Phoenix Agricultural
Club, Cobb County.]
At the last meeting of the above Club, the
regular discussion "Whest-planting, fertillz
ing and preparing the land " Mr. j. Cham
| berlain opened by saying that he had been
brought up in a wheat country-one said to be
| the best in America-western New York; and
| had grown wheat in Tennessee and at two
points in Georgia, and had closely compared
| the climate of them all with that OF New York
and he felt entirely safe in saying that Georgia
was as well adapted to the growth of wheat as
| that State He was certain that the low yield
was entirely owing to Vhe inferior manner IN
which the crop was put in and MANFRED. The
| most successful cultivatOrs north, always put
| the largest and best part of their manure on
the wheat crop. Dat or barley stubble was
generally plowed as deep as possible in August
| allowed to Iay for few weeks. or until the
| first of September, then thoroughly narrowed
| down and finely pulverized; seed drilled III
eight inches apart at the rate. of one, or one anc
one half bushels per acre, and the land made
| firm by rolling.
Mr.. T H. Cheek, Superintendent of Kenne
saw Mills, said That an experience Of twenty
wears in milling wheat in Georgia, had con
| WINGED him that the wheat grown in the region
| of country extending from Maryland to Ala
bama in belt about one hundred miles wide
south east of the Blue Ridge Mountains, pro
duced the best wheat in the world for making
| the choice brends Of -four He had iarmed il
richest parts of Arkansas, and in small way
on the 80 called poor hills Of Georgia and
| takinL all things into consideration. this was
| the most favorable st tie. In former State. IL
bushels was the average but was of an inferior
quality. The white wheals were not in de
:. =. 4. ! ,l,,tt hn do or
well. when ground into flour, as they contained
too much water and wss also not liked by lthe
| bakers The hard red varieties were the sorts
wanted. Instead of moisture, as in the white
tney contained an oil which made a stronger
flour that could be shipped to the hottest 2parif
| of the world.
As far as his knowledge extends the best va
rieties were Bill Dallas, Mediterranean, Ian
caster, Purple Straw, Indiana Amber, and
Walker The Fultz is very productive
wheat, but not a good milling variety The
| Walker is commonly known in this country az
| Red May wheat. Much depended on the
proper time of sowing and harvesting in max
| ing the hest grade early sowing making much
the beat -four 1t should be cut neither toe
early, or too late. but just at hat stage when
| the grain cou d be pinched in two. lu a mum
Der Of ex perments tried in England with dit
| ferent kinds of manures. is was found thai
large applications of phosPhates alone, did moi
pay but in combination with ammonia, the
Weld was greatly increased, from IL TO 81
| bushels per acre.
Az to the amount of seed to be sown, it was
found that one grain under favorable conditions
usually produced sixteen stalks each has q
head containing fifty grains, or in word on'
| grain will increase to eight hundred AT thl'
rate. a man who sows two bushels per tcre
| ! lint ba
amount has never been made it il quite evi
dent that tie greater part OF the seed is lost
| Two quarts OF wheat sOwn on an acre have
made fifty bushels When all things are mod
arstely favorable. the American farmer shonl'
not sow more than one bushel per acre. Mr.
| Cheek said that by thinner sowing the saving
! in seed to the United States would be 2OOOO,
! 600 bushels Of wheat, and the crop would b
gr atty benefited thereby.
The majority OF the Club thought that bon
dust and cotton seed were the best fertilizer
and the first Of November the first time TO
sowing.