Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1894-11-22
Cost of Wheat RAISING.

1t is a notorious fact, however,
that the wheat crop Of Argentine is
very uncertain, and while some years
she may export large surplus, there
will be other seasons when none will
go abroad, This uncertainty of yield,
caused largely by poor methods of
culture changeable seasons and the
inability Of the growers to protect
their crops from parasites. diseases,
and dry weather will give the Amer
lean farmers an opportunity to make
larger profits every few years. The
relative cost Of raising wheat in diff.
ferent sections of the country as
shown by comparative statistics il
lustrates very forcibly what improved
Cultu and methods will do in bring
ing down the expenses. These diff
ferences amount in some cases as
high as So and 81 per acre, and for no
other reason than that some farmers
practice intensive farming carefully
and Others let nature raise the crops
for them to a large extent 1t is
also possible fol- those who think they
have reached the rock bottom cost Of
culture to bring down the cost per
acre much lower yet, and the de-
velopment Of agriculture in the fut-
ure will demonstrate This to them
The great question that wheat grow.
ers must consider is: How to cheap
en- the cost OF raising wheat consist.
ent with large crops and good quality
of grain. Every farmer should figure
out for himself Just what it costs to
raj G a Dushel of wheat, and then
when this is done begin earnestly to
improve along two lines. One is to
b ing down that cost at least dollar
per pore u year as long as possible,
and at the same time to increase the
Weld and quality. This can he done
only with intensiN farming of high
order, but as the question is tried
one wi lie surprised at the difference
in the yield and cost he can make out
of his work. Improved machinery is
necessary for this work, but as the
cost OF machinery is so great on the
farm it is necessary to study the best
methods of preserving the machine y
the greatest length Of time. This is
question generally overlooked. Seed
wheat is improving in this country,
and only the very finest of the heav-
lest grains should b. used. Most of
the seed wheat to-day sown in good
seed beds will yield rs per cent more
per acre than the cid seed The cost
of land, manures, cultivation and
wear and tear on horses and other
things must all be considered IN a
determined effort to bring down the
cost. 1t seems like weakness to say
that the present cost cannot be re-
duced. -Cincinnati Inquirer.
Value of Irrigation.
Prof G. II. Fullyer says lack of
water is reducing the area cultivated
in Kansas. The question is not sim
ply of putting in one or few crops
that have their long and regular
periods of seed time, culture and
harvest, but to select variety that
will most fully occupy both the
farmer and the soil. Crops in which
skill in growing, harvesting and
marketing count for much are chosen
The farmers of that portion where
water is within easy reach by W nd
mill pumps seem in a fair way to rank
the h CHEST in the intelligent effort
to make the most out OF the forces
and appliances with which they work.
This IS one OF the comp nsations of
irrigation. The same amount of land
may be made to y cid much greater
returns, but to do this more thought
must be given to the work. The
people of such regions become we'll
to.do, not to say wealthy; they are
refined and educated. Irrigated