The Atlanta constitution., 1901-10-14
SOWING WHEAT.

In Bulletin No. H. published in October.
1891. expressed the following convictions
in regard To the eXpediency of sowing
wheat and these Were repeated In Bulletin
No. -. published in September. 1888.
~ Reasonable diversity of crops is i'm
dispensab. To- prosperous farming. Every
farmer must decide FOR himself t. what
extent he will diversity what crops he
will produce on his own farm. and what
supplies he Will buy IN the market or
from other farmers. As rule. "A farmer
should produce ON his own farm those
supplies of which his family requires the
largest quantity.
ION many farms in Georgia it would
not pay 10 sow wheat. where the number
of consumers Is small and where there Is
no land that Is REASONABLY well adapted
10 this grain. Ii would hardly bc worth
while for "A young man just married ana
requiring only two or three barrels of
Hour tfor a years supply To raise wheat.
IL h not worth while for a farmer in the
coast region To attempt TO produce wheat.
nor farmer In the mountain region To
But in north Georgia and on many
farms in middle Georgia. there are loca-
tiuns Well adapted to wheat. \ high, dry.
gray or chocolate loam. underlaid 10y
clay. will produce wheat with reasonable
certainty. The richest soil rs not the
most certain
Since the above views We're expressed !
have seen no reason 10 mouify them. not
withstanding the enthusiasm that has ap-
parrutly been developed in some sections
Of Georgia and adjoining states. east and
west in regard to wheat culture. / repeat
that there are many farms in the north
ern half Of these states on which wheat
may Ice made a successful market crop.
and wheat ought to De- sown by every
farmer who requires considerable guam
tlty of Hour for home consumption.
The experience of wears past has proven
that the variety known generally as
purple straw or blue stem Is the best
for tn. south generally IL IS not abso-
iutely proof against rust, but viii gem
orally escape serious inJ-ry from TINS
fungus II sown ON high. dry soil-not too
rich. II is doubtful If there is "A wheat
that is absolutely rust proof and at the
same tim. will make an acceptable -four
for ordinary bread and biscuit making.
Th, Early May-red or White-Was once
very popular because IL was very early
and therefore not likely 10 rust, while II
also made a good flour. But II is not
very productiyi. wheat. "Fultz" and 'Iful-
,aster'' are two varieties that have be-
come popular in some sections and are
x.t so,su a. "a considerable extent. but
the purple straw" l. probably thr most
widely popular and approved variety now
sown ia the south.
Il is quite generally known that rust D.
the most dangerous and destructive
enemy 10 wheat IA the south. IL Is apt To
develop during the moist, hot spell ot
weather Ia April OF May especially ii the
location * far south and at "A low eirva-
tiun above ths- sea- All that can be- done
o. prev. nj rust is 10 select IA hardy, rust
resistant variety and SOW on a soil known
10 bc most fatorabIe Tor wheat. The soil
should not be low-lyng and moist AUt
rather elevated and dry. Liberal fertiliz-
Ing ls Indispensable and the composition
u th,. fertilizer viii. 10 some extent. be
determined by the sun conditions. For in
Stance. ou strong. fresh soils abuuudiug iu
hurnus the fertilizer should not contain
50 large a percentage OF nltrosen"us ina
..r,di-nts. such as cotton meal, dried
blood. ltukage. etc.
Preparation of the Soil.
OF az the grains wheat is most in
sistent ou thorough preparation oI tine
soil month al least in advance ~
s,yyiut. th.. soil should bee well and deeply
broken and thoroughly narrowed until
the surfac, Is smooth ami mellow and
free from ciodS hitter. etc. Wheat de
Uelts ia a iinr. mellow serd hed- Ou soils
~ q light or II a spougl. open texture ~
is advised tu roll tne surface iust before
planting so as TO somewhat compact the
upper lgy~r uf : or inches iu depth
When To Sow.
The common belief. aud II seems well
based il that the best tiine % sow Is al
about the date al which the nrst killing
FROST usually occurs. OF about the last
wssk ia ucIou,r or ihe Arst week lu N"-
x.uh,r. la tire eNtrtm, southern limit
prsutnhle wheat culture seed may b'
suWu as late as November l5. and good
crops have been produced from sowiuSs
even much later. But good results from
these very late suwings must be consid-
cred as the exception and not the rule
believe o. Is rather safer. however. @"
sow rather late than 60 SOW too early.
The regular grain drill Will Invariably
give better results than the sluv"niy
method uf blowing in with "a 'twtster.
or scooter" or narrowing iu with "a
. cut-aWay harrow. In tho absence Of "a
regular seed drill fairly good plan IS
L. rib the surface Of the already pre-
pared soil bv laying scooter burrows as
near to each other as practicable with
- l.