The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1899-11-01
A FLORIDA FARMERS NOTES ON
WHEAT GROWING.
Correspondence Progressive Farmer.

Correspondence Progressive Farmer.
1t is generally supposed that wheat
growing in the extreme South is un-
profitable, but If property managed, it
can be made one of the most successful
crops on the Southern farm. Oats.
rye, and barley are apt to get very
severely damaged, if not entirely killed,
if an extreme frost should occur, such
as we had last February. But wheat
is frost proof and after tho severe biz
zard Of the 10Th of February last, nv
wheat crop was the only green thing Oh
tho farm for few weeks. 1t came
through that severe weather in perfect
condition and henceforth it shall have
place among the winter crops of tho
farm every year. Any one who has
once grown it will continue doing so.
Like corn, ii is Cne of those crops that
no farmer can afford to be without. On
the sandy soils of the South tits often
affirmed that wheat cannot be grown
that will fill out plump and hard in the
grain like the Northcrn-grown article.
But if the proper grade of fertilizer is
used it can be quite as successfully
grown on the sandy soil of the South
as anywhere else. There are certain
varieties that SUIT our climate best, and
and if these are adopted and the fertili-
zation of the crop along the proper
lines, success is sure to reward the
efforts of any one who will give this
crop fair trial. The farmer who con-
templates growing wheat should plan
well ahead and when he IS planting his
spring crop arrange to prepare for the
fall planting Of wheat, by sowing eth
er cow peas or velvet beans ON that
land. My preference would be the
velvet bean, as it i: better nitrogen
gatherer than the COW pea, but when
it comes to plowing under the crop, the
COW pea is the easiest managed. But
if the velvet bean is moved and allowed
to lie on the land where cut, it will be
easily plowed under then. The land
for wheat should be put in the best
possible condition by repeated work
ings of the cultlvator and harrow until
1t is as fine and friable as an ash heap.
At the last working of the cultivator
the fertilizer should be applied broad
cast and as evenly distributed on the
entire area as possible. This fertilizer
should be complete plant food for
wheat; it should analyzo s per cent of
phosphoric acid 8 per cent of potash,
and 8 per cent of nitrogen. About 600
pounds per acre on ordinary sandy soil
will he quite Hmple. But should the
soil be in good physica. condition and
we'll filled with humus, coupe of
hundred pounds more would be gooo
Investment. After the fertilizer is ap-
piled, the cultivator should be run as
evenly as possible over the ground so
as to leave small shallow burrows for
the seed to fall in. In the absence of
wheat drill one has to seed by hand as
evenly as possible. A bushel and u
half 10 the acre is a good average seed
ing.
After sowing run harrow the cross
way of the cultivator marks. This will
cover it even and cause it to sprout
uniformly. A roller should be run
over the land Immediately after, or in
the absence of roller, heavy drag,
TO prevent water standing in pools and
eventually cause washingduring a heavy
rain. Some wheat growers apply salt
to the crop, claiming it will produce a
bright colored straw, where such straw
is wanted for any special purpose. Salt
may be an important addition, but by
using kainit as the source of potash in
the fertilizer, the same end may be at
tanned. Early in March top dressing
of nitrate of soda is recommended, APP
piled Immediately before or during a
rain. Never apply nitrate of soda to a
dry soil in dry weather.
Spring wheat is not success in the
South, as hot weather is on before it is
ready for riponing and spring planting
is always ripened prematurely.
The best time to SOW wheat in this
latitude is between the 10Th of October
and the 18th of November. When SOW.
ed then ii is ready for harvesting from
the middle TO the end of May. The
best variety for use here is Red Turkish
it is bearded wheat not very heavy in
straw but has plump round grains and
fills up very well, and can stand rea
sonable amount Of dry weather, such
as we get in May and early June. ]
can see no reason whatever why every
farmer in the South should not be a,
much interested in q wheat crop as il
a corn crop, for The one is certainly al
profitable as the other, and it will be 81
in tew years, that wheat on the South
ern farm will be deemed as importan
as corn. O. X. McQUARRrE.
DE Funiak Springs, Fla.