The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1899-11-10
EXPERIENCES WITH WHEAT.
Results In Up-Country Soil which VIII DO OF
Interest and VaIus to Fa,mc,s Sowing
for IL Summer Cauh Crop.
Greenvillo News.

The following nre extracts from the
bulletins Of The Clemson college OK
periments with wheat. These will be
followed in tho next few weeks by
other articles on the samo line:
Wheat delights in comparatively
stiff soil, clay loan ranking first in
adaptation, sandy loan second and
sandy soils last. The latter, however,
may be prolitably cultivated in wheat
if liberally supplied with humus and
properly supplied with plant food
Wheat succeeds bestupon soils which
have previously been cultivated in
some hoed crop. Previous treatment
which rendered the soil very porous is
not favorable to wheat. Upon light
soils the rolIcr sho'll be used after
seeding and again early in tho spring,
just before the plants put for the seed,
stalks.
In southern climates wheat should
not bo sown until cool weather, since
it will not germinato successfully ut
high temperature. Early sown
wheat is also liable to bo attacked by
tho Hessian fly. 1t is we'll, therefore,
to defer sowing until a killing frost
occurs.
Another danger to which worry early
sown wheat is liable is the bursting
Of the stems by spring frost occurring
after tho stems have jointed. on the
other hand very late sowing increases
tho risk of winter killing if severe
freezing occurs before tho plants arc
securely rooted. Late sown wheat and
late varieties incur tho risk Of in Jury
from very warm weather accompanied
with moisture, causing conditions ia
vorable to tho production Of rust,
while if the weather is very hot and
dry bleaching or premature ripening
occurs.
The depth to which the seed may
be covered depends somewhat on the
character Of the soil and especially
upon the porosity and consequent
facilities for aoration. Experiments,
however, conducted to determine tho
best depth, showed that the per-
centage of grains that vegeSated in Il
fertile sandy loan varied but little in
seed covered from q half inch to three
inches in depth. The number which
vegetated at a depth greater than
three inches diminished suddenly and
rapidly to six inches, at which tho
few which vogotatod at all were en-
feebled by the obstacles which they
had overcome.
The quantity of seed to bo sown por
acre depends upon the size OF tho
grains, and consequently the number
per bushel, and upon the fertility of
the soil The plants will tiller moro
upon fertile than upon that less for
tile. The quantity Of seed varies
from three to five pecks por acre.
Seed may be econimlzed by the use
of the wheat drill, which deposits
them at auniform rate and depth, and
consequently larger percentage of
those sown vogetato than is sown
broadcast. Seven varieties supposed
to be best adapted to this section of
the South we're sown Nov %, 1897, on
one half aero plots. These plots were
located on rather high bottom land.
The soil is sandy loan underlaid
with clay. Corn, with COW peas sown
broadcast at last plowing, had been
grown on the land tho year before.
The COW peas made considerable
growth before frost and tho vines were
plowed under when preparing for
wheat. The ground was thoroughly
plowed with two. horse breaking
plow and pulyerised with n cutaway
harrow before planting. The plant,
ing WAS done force feed hoo drill and
at the rate of Six pecks J or acre
No fertilizer was used.
The dry weather in the fall pro
vented tho proper development O
the plants and a continued droutl
in the spring riponed somo of thu
varieties prematurely. All the va
rioties suffered from rust upon thu
blades.