The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1898-07-19
WHEAT IN 1IIE SOUTH
Excellent Food for Reflection for tho
Farmers.
ATLANTA journal, l2th.)

ATLANTA journal, 12th.)
Last spring the New York journal of
Commerce and Commercial Bulletin
said that southern farmers who, dis
couragcd by the low price of cotton,
were going into wheat raising. -uIc
jumping from the frying par into the
fire.
MIR. Fred o. +, OF Charlotte, \. G.,
does not think that this is necessarily
SO, and in Il letter to the journal of
Commerce and Commercial Bulletin
gives his experience with wheat and
cotton. Mr.. Oliver says he had culti-
vatcd cotton on 200 acres of land for
i've years past, raising from thrcc-quar-
tors OF bale TO II bale to the acre. He
had so acres In corn which produced
25 bushels per acre.
10 produce his cotton crop Mr.. Oliver
used $40 worth Of fertilizer to the acre,
and rs he could grow no other crop on
that land in the same year he could
hardly do moro than come out even ut
the present price Of cotton.
BY planting wheat on tho same land
| he could raise in addition to wheat II
crop OF corn, COW peas, Irish or sweet
potatoes, or peanuts. Any one OF these
crops could be harvested in time to
plow and SOW the land in wheat the
sumo full.
Last fall Mr.. Oliver determined to
try his entire $50 acres, which had for
years been given up TO cotton and corn,
in wheat. lie wrote his letter to the
New York paper before his wheat had
boon harvested, but after it was mature
enough to show about what it would do.
| He SAYS:
''rhc whole $50 acres of land men,
| TONED Is now in winter wheat, and us
2Co acres were last season in cotton the
wheat was very late in being sOwn.
Fertilizer to the amount OF 81 per acre
was used and drilled in with the wheat
The present condition Of this 2l0 acres
is the wonder Of the whole farming
element OF this county, and the present
estimates OF the yield per acre, pro-
vidcd there is no disastrous wheathcr,
is from 30 to 80 bushels; probably 10
bushels will be harvested on the aver
aye.
''This wheat crop will produce ut
least two tons OF straw per acre, which
will hiring SIS to $S per ton.
"Thc whcav will bo followed by Il
crop of COW peas to make COW pea hay,
and by the use of SIS worth of fertilizer
per acre ut least three tons of hay can
bc gathered, which will sell ut from
$3.50 to $500 per ton.
'"Thcrc will be raised on each acre 10
bushels OF wheat at 81 per bushcl, $40;
: tons straw, $40; tons COW pea hny
$'5; total, $50; expense of fertilizer, $40
per acre for the two crops, snmc as to
raise Il bale OF cotton that may bring 5
cents per pound, or $25, or perhaps only
cents or $40, and perhaps at most 8
cents or SlO. The two crops OF wheat
and COW pea hay can he grown, harvest
cd and sold at no greater expense than
necessary to raise Il bale of cotton per
acre"
This Is Il remarkable showing, anu
we do not wonder that Mr.. Oliver has
strong faith in the possibilities OF
} wheat in the South.
An unusually large quantity Of wheat
was planted In Georgia this year b,
CAUSE OF the high price of wheat aud
the low price Of cotton, and we have
heard OF many turner's in this State
who made their wheat crops profitable
Mr.. james Nj. Smith, OF Oglcthorl G
County is IL large producer Of wheat
and makes it pay handsomely. ,ns
year he raised 10000 bushels Of wheat
and his crop averaged over 30 bushels
: TO tho acre. That would be Il goo,
wheat crop In the West.
, There arc thousands OF acres OF lame
in Georgia which will bring fine wheat
crops under proper cultivation, and vs.
expect to see q great ;ncrcusc in tn,
wheat production {, this State and tb,
entire South.
, Mr.. divers letter affords excellent
food for reflection.