The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1886-11-04
SUGGESTIONS ABOUT WHEAT.
A DISCUSSION OF THIS GRAIN AS GROW n
IN THE SOUTH.
TIMELY Article from an Experienced and
Successful Farmer.
(w. l.. Jones in Atlanta Constitution

(W. l.. Jones in Atlanta constitutional
Is wheat IL profitable crop in the cot
ton belt? Except in limestone and high,
mountainous regions, it is not. The
yield is too uncertain, the cost of raising
too great. Wheat is probably farther
removed from its original wild (and,
therefore, hardy) state than any plant
we cultivate. 1t has been domesticated
SO long, and SO changed by domestica-
ton, that botanists have failed to identi-
~ the plant or plants from which it
ORIGINALLY y came. 1t has been so changed
1t has become SO artificial in its nature
and habits, that it gives way under COM
petition, and cannot hold its place, in
the struggle for existence, with the
harder and moro vigorous plants that if
encounters. But for mans aid, wheat
would die out and disappear in one, o,,
at most two OF three years. 1t must
nave thoroughly prepared soil and an
abundance OF food, especially nitrogen
Gus food, the costlest of all. 1t has
very little root power, and cannot set
iree and appropriate the locked up food
III inc SOL. Everything must be ready
prepared and fully within its reach As
consequence of these pcculiarities. il
yleldS readily to adverse influences,
"nGtner or climate, seasons or soils. IT
wlthstands moderate cold quite well; but
this said all is said. ''''
AS a matter of long experience and OK
tended observation, we know that wboot
thrives best in cool climates. rho no,tb'
ern United States and northern Fnro,1o
is the home of the wheat crop. In those
regions wheat is successfully orown
even when sown in the spring. at the
| South, wheat sOwn at that season would
not BRING back the seed to the sowcr, A
southern climate then does not seem To
be adapted to the constitution of tho
wheat plant. But IN addition to this. or
possibly as consequence of this, wheat
IS greatly more liable to be DESTROYED bv
rust at the South than at the NORTH
Ihls IS the weak point in wheat cuHnre
with us. This is the chief thino thot
renders the wheat crop so uncertain and
unreliable. How to guard against rnst
Is then the foremost consideration in thn
preparation for the crop. AS matter
OF universal experience, it is well known
mat dampness both of soil and mir ond
q succnlent, sappy growth of the plant,
are poth favorable to the DEVELOPMENT OF
EuSt. n dry May and Il good wheat cror
usually go together. Now SO far as the
amount OF rain and the general humidity
OF the atmosphere is concerned. tA9
FARMER Is helpless; he cannot contro
ILeSc' put he can ward off in part the
GiIectS OF excessive rain by selecting fol
ms WAGat felds high knobs or knolls
tf from Mhlcn water runs off rapidly, and
Inc sous OIL which are, therefore, com.
SOILS, also, which are least retentivc of
moisture. AS rule, such as have com.
Paratlvcly little humus, are driver than
those which abound in that Substance
The soils Of low lands are damnrr thon
those OF uplands, and the air which rests
upon the former is generally damDcr
IMAM that over the latter. This Is shown
by the heavy dews which prevail on bot
tom lands. 1t is obvious, therefore, THAI
q farmers judgment becomes a decided
1actor IN the raising of wheat cr0D.
Again, we have said, that succulent.
| SuppJ growth OF wheat, favors the deyel-
opmcnt of rust. Can a farmer control
tins? Yes; to certain degree he can
lst by proper selection of soil as dis
cusScd above; and I'd by proper renn-
iGtlon OF the manure applied to the cron
f.Nct sslvc doses of most fertilizers hit
particularly Of nitrogcnous manures tend
to develop luXuIient growth of stalk and
leaves. Every one has noticed the fen
dency OF wheat thus manurcd to fall
down or "lodge." The stem is soft and
unable to hold up the heads. Hence,
whist wheat must have manure, and
must have mtrogenous manure too. these
Shoulo not be applied in excessive
amounts and the nitrogen Should be
wen proportloned to the other inpredi.
cntS' so that well balanced development
OF the plant result TO sum up, there
iiorG' wheat should be sown on high dry
hlnd, with a rather thirsty soil and with
sou rather devoid of hUmus Such n
sou Is usually poor. Wheat will not
gro" on poor soils-hcnce it must be
I'th''red' iI wheat needs more nitrogen
IMAM most other plants-hencc it must
pc pc h''nUrGd with nitrogenous manures
os os'' " Hlcolum manurlng-thc equivalent
OF, say five hundred bushels of cotton
Seco 10 the acre-wOuld be better than
a much larger amount. Cotton eooJ ia
II 6ood manure for wheat, cspcciallv ON
very poor land. And poor land is hest
for wheat when properly manured Rnf
~ liz IJlOfcI DY UllG 0U-
dition Of little phosphate. Fifty bush
els OF cotton seed and 100 to 15O bounds
OF acid phosphate per acre is a safe and
reliable manuring for wheat.
But why discuss the growing of ,ynoot
when 1t IS admitted to be an unproGtablc
crop because, crop which might not
pay poy asa, rs a market, H"S, or money crop, may
1Pny 1,ny, very handsomely mo when grown for
nom nome use. This is most generally t,mc,
There are very few things a farmer can
buy, cheaper than he can raise. Our
people have fallen into the terrible belief
that they can buy almost everything
cheaper than they can raise it. TRcy do
not not think they can buy cotton cheaper
tn@n Iael,;ey tney Go raise it, but probably that
1t does IN the case of almost anv other
crop grown. BY all means let ovory
19rmGr SOW enough wheat for home nsc.
For the small crop necessary to this end, ,
nc can find enough land we'll suited TO i
lie can spare the needed manure, and
he can take time to give it thoronnh