The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1886-11-03
SUGGESTIONS ABOUT WHEAT.
/ DISC; s-i0E OF TITS GRAIN ~ GEGW y
~ ':'!I2 50. TIL.
4 Timely Article from al Experienced and
succcSsful Farmer.

~ .:fI .eI. : Az
4 Timely Article from al Experienced an
successful Farmer.
(w. T.. Jores : Atlanta Coas.i:u,iur.)
IS wheat profitable crop il the cot
tor belt? Except in limestone and high
mountainous regions, it is not. The
Weld 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. It has been dornesticate6
50 long, and so changed by domestica
ton, that botanists have failed to identi
| fy the plant OF plants from which il
originally came. 1t has been so changed
it has become so artificial in its nature
and habits, that it gives way under com.
petition, and cannot hold its place, il
the struggle for existence, with the
harder and more vigorous plants that il
encounters. But for mans aid, wheat
wonld die out and disappear in one, OF
at most two or three years. It must
have a thoroughly prepared soil and an
abundance Of food, especially nitrogen
Gus food, the costliest of all. It has
very little root power, and cannot set
free and appropriate the locked up food
in the soil. Everything must be ready
prepared and fully within its reach. As
a consequence of these pecuiarities, If
yields readily to adverse Influences,
whether OF climate, seasons or soils. It
withstands moderate cold quite well; but
this said, all is said.
As matter of long experience and ex-
tended observation, We know that wheat
thriyes best in cool climates. The north.
ern United States and northern Europe
is the home of the wheat crop. In those
regions wheat is successfully grown,
even when sown in the spring. At the
South, wheat sown at that season would
not bring back the seed to the sower. \
southern climate tlen does not seem to
be adapted to the constitution Of the
wheat plant. But in addition to this, or
possibly as a consequence of this, wheat
is greatly more liable to be DESTROYED bv
rust at the South than at the North.
This IS the weak point in wheat culture
with us. This is the chief thing that
renders the wheat crop so uncertain and
unreliable. How to guard against rust
Is then the foremost consideration in the
preparation for the crop. AS matter
OF universal experience, it IS well known
that d&mpncss, both Of soil and air, and
succulent, sappy growth of the plant,
are both favorable TO the development Of
rust. 4 dry May and a good wheat crop
usually so together. Vow so far as the
amount of rain and the general humidity
OF the atmosphere is concerned, the
farmer IS helpless; he cannot control
these. But he can ward off in part the
effects OF excessive rain by selecting for
his wheat fields high knobs or knolls,
from which water runs of rapidly, and
the soils Of which are, therefore, COM
parativaiy dry. He can select those
soils, also, which are least retentive of
moisture. As a rule, such as have COM
paratlVely little humus, are dryer than
those which abound in that substance.
The soils Of low lands are Gamper than
those OF uplands, and the air which rests
upon the former is generally damper
than that over the latter. This is shown
by the heavy dews which prevail on bot
tom lands. 1t is obvious, therefore, that
farmers judgment becomes decided
factor III the raising Of 4 wheat crop.
Again, We have said, that a succulent,
sappy growth of wheat, tarors The devel-
opment OF rust. Can g farmer control
this? Yes; to certain degree he can
lst by q proper selection OF soil rs dis
eussed above; and I'd by proper regu-
lation OF the manure applied to tie crop.
Ike sslve doses of most fertilizers, but
particularly Of nitrogenous manures tend
to develop luxurient growth Of stalk and
leaves. Every one has noticed the ten
dency OF wheat thus manured to fall
down or ''lodge." The stem is soft and
unable to hold up the heads. Hence,
whilst wheat must have manure, and
must have nitrogenous manure too, these
should not be applied in excessive
amounts, and the nitrogen should be
well proportioned to the other ingredi-
ents, so that a well balanced development
OF the plant result. TO sum up, there
fore, wheat should be sovn on high dry
land, with rather thirsty soil and with
a soil rather devoid OF humus. Such q
soil is usually poor. Wheat will not
grow on poor soils-hence it must be
manured. Wheat needs more nitrogen
than most other plants-hence it must
be manured with nitrogenous manures
but a medium manuring-the equivalent
OF, say five hundred bushels OF cotton
seed to the acre--would be better than
a much larger amount. Cotton seed is
a good manure for wheat, especially on
very poor land. And poor land is best
for wheat when properly manured. But
cotton seed may be improved by the ad-
dition of a little phosphate. Fifty bush
els OF cotton seed and 100 to $50 pounds
of acid phosphate per acre is a safe and
reliable manuring for wheat.
But why discuss the growing Of wheat,
when it is admitted to be ali improbable
crop. Because, 4 crop which might not
pay rs market, or money crop, naly
pay very handsomely when grown for
home use. This is most generally true.
There are very few things 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. They do
not think they can buy cotton cheaper
than they do raise it, but probably that
proposition comes nearer the truth than