The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1899-08-17
The Wheat Crop.
(BY A. NJ. METrETAL.)

Does 1t pay to raise wheat?
That depends upon various circum-
stances connected with the crop, the
land on which the wheat is grown.
To expend rs cents in labor on every
bushel of wheat raised, and leave the
land poorer than it was before, inst to
raise wheat worth 20 cents is not pay
ing business. Better work at some
thing else, buy tho wheat and let the
land rest. Yet, it will pay to raise
wheat costing 81 per bushel, even if
worth but 60 cents, if by so doing you
increase the fertility of the land suffi-
GENTLY to raise twice as much wheat
the succeeding year.
| make the unqualified statement
that the farmer who raises wheat for
market at any price, whether high or
low, and reduces the fertility of his
land at same time, is doing ruinous
business.
What is the remedy?
Take one or more good agricultural
papers; attend the farmers institutes
and conventions; seek information from
every available source, aud apply the
knowledge obtained with untiring
energy.
First, to raise a wheat crop, you
must take the best land for wheat on
the farm. If clover or peas have been
raised on it the previous year, or if it
has been in grass or grain, pillow during
month of July if possible; better in
June than August Land plowed for
wheat after Aug. 10th will not give the
best results. After crop of corn, po-
tatoes or late peas, remove the crop
and prepare the seed bed without pre-
vious blowing.
The surface should be thoroughly
pulverized 2 or 3 inches deep, but the
soil should be compact beyond that
depth. 1t can be made SO by rolling
after the first narrowing if the blowing
late. Harrow often enough to keep
down all weeds.
The best results are obtained by
drilling the wheatlengthwise and cross
wise, using one half of seed and one
half of Fertilizer at each drilling. The
seed should be the very best which can
be obtained, free from smut, and va
riety to suit the soil and season.
How much Fertilizer should be used
If you desire to raise good wheat
crop and good crop of clover, and i'm
prove your land permanently, use not
less than 500 pounds of good wheat fer
tilizer per acre.
Will any brand of Fertilizer do fol
wheat?
No, sir; the Fertilizer used on wheat
land should be prepared specially fol
wheat 1t should contain a large
quantity of Potash, balanced by on
equal quantity of Phosporic Acid, and
if the land is deficient in humus or nitro
gen, liberal supply of ammonif
should be added.
Will Fertilizer containing s to 1O
per cent Acid, and to 8 per cent Pot.
ash give good results?
Such Fertilizer is deficient in pot
ash. If you apply 200 pounds per acre
you are scattering about pounds o.
potash, which any intelligent farmer
knows would be a small quantity on (
garden containing 10 square rods. L
helps to stimulate growth and increases
the crop considerably, but often leaves
the land poorer in consequence of th,
stimulus.
Will Acid Phosphate make q crop o
; wheat?
There may be conditions of the sol
where an application of the Acid nigh
be beneficial, but my opinion based OF
the chemical elements found to exist il
wheat and straw is that it is a shee
waste of money. Likewise large eS
cess of Acid over the potash is wastefu
and useless.
Where can special wheat Fertilize
be obtained?
1t may be obtained from any reputs
BILE dealer, or you can manufacture
yourself as follows:
] Take 1000 pounds Acid Phosphate
Y 100 pounds Muriate Potash, 900 pound
: rich compost, for one ton of hig
] grade Potash Fertilizer; or 800 pound
Acid Phosphate, 100 pounds Mauria'
!: Potash, 200 pounds Nitrate of Soda, 9E
{ pounds Compost for one ton of an
0 moniated Fertilizer of very high grad
. What is compost?
Compost is a pulverized mass, col
sisting of nitre dirt, road-dust, Woo
o dirt, hen manure, scrapings of ban
i yard, lime, salt, chip dirt, etc., mike
% and sifted together in almost any o
= tainable proportion. If prepared wi
% care this mixture will possess son
value in itself as Fertilizer, and WI
n form good body to hold the necessal