The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1899-09-12
CONCLUDED From PAGE Il

RCG g4SAO"
8. The wheat grown in the South IL
winter wheat, and this usually, event
Chicago markets, brings from two to
three cents more per bushel than spring
wheat. Still another reason, already
adverted to in this paper, is the keep,
ing qualities Of the four made from
Southern grown wheat, which is there,
fore preferred for intertropical ship
ments.
6. Another great reason why wheat
growing in the South will continue to
be profitable is the assured Cheapness
of commercial fertilizers. The Rp
parentIy inexhaustible beds Of phos-
pilates found in South Carolina and
Florida, and especially the discovery
of the great stratified phosphate beds
of Tennessee, is q virtual guarantee or
an abundance of cheap fertilizers for
Southern wheat growers for many
decades to come. Acid phosphates
NAV be made in many Of the great
centers Of the South and sold at $12
per ton with a good profit to the a
ufacturer. The use of such fertilizers
will increase the profits Of wheat grow
ing many fold. 1t should always be
borne in mind that the profits Of any
crop is the amount realized over and
above the cost Of production. If it re.
quires eight bushels OF wheat to pay
the cost of growing an acre, twenty
bushels per acre will bring six times
the profit that ten bushels will, less the
cost of fertilizers, for the cost OF grow
ing any crop must always be deducted
before the profits begin. The cost of
acid phosphate per acre should not ex,
coed 81 80. The yield Of wheat on
argillaceous soils is often increased by
such an application six or eight bush
els to the acre.
z. As a incidental profit to wheat
culture in the South may be mentioned
the value of the wheat fields for graz
ing during the winter months. 10 the
latitude of Kentucky, Tennessee and
Virginia wheat soWn in the latter part
of September or the first week in DC
tober will, with reasonable weather,
make q thick, verdant mat over the
ground by the middle Of November.
On such a growth a large number of
sheep may be carried during the entire
winter, except when the field is wet,
without decreasing the yield OF grain
during the following summer. In the
rich limestone soils Of the border States
il ia estimated that one eve and lamb
may be kept on one acre OF wheat IN
good condition for the four months
from November 18th to March 18th.
Ewes having the benefit Of green for
age during the Landing season give
abundant sustenance by their deep
flow of milk to their lambs, which, in
consequence, are so FASTENED in their
growth that they r ready for mar
ket early in May and sometimes by
the middle of April. At that season
they bring big prices in the Northern
markets and become no inconsiderable
item in the profits of Southern farm
era. WHARF spring wheat is grown no
such incidental profits can be expected
or realized.
That the yield of wheat in the South
should be 80 large is astonishing when
the generally inadequate preparation
Of the soil is considered. In the best
growing sections Of the South
the land for wheat is usually well pre-
pared, deeply broken, narrowed and
sometimes rolled. The seed is put in
with a drill, which has a fertilizer at
sachment, which distributes fertile ers
With the seed. But in nearly all the
States wheat is scratched in the
after cotton or corn withouG
any ~rebreaking of the land. The SOW
ing is often deferred until near the
Of December.
The best yields of wheat are made
upon clover or pea fallow. Tobacco
and peanuts are good forerunners o
wheat, because they require clean cul-
lure and the land is kept in fine filth.
On very rich, we'll prepared lands
)ne bushel is enough to be sown on an
acre, if sown early. On thinner soils
he quantity should be increased, and
nay be Increased with profit, up to
iwo bushels per acre, Wheat tills
very little upon poor soils, even though
hey be treated with fertilizers.
The proper depth for sowing wheat
g from one and one half to two inches
When put in deeper the strength of
young plumule is unduly taxed
while pushing it's way to the light, and
N doinp thia IL ma exhaust the sI1s-