The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1905-10-19
Raleigh Progressive Farmer

The excellent $50 prize essay on
wheat growing contributed to this
number OF our occasional CORES
pondent, Mr. f. f. Miller of Norris
town, Tenn, ought to turn the at
tention OF may of our readers to the
| Importance of increasing the acreage
of this grain the coming season.
The only sure foundation for contin-
ued prosperity in the South lies in
the diversitication of crops, and the
chances are that we may learn this
in the dearest school of experience
next year. Ii cotton prices stay
about ten cents, it is going to be the
hardest task in the world to keep the
acreage down to reasonable limits.
A heavy grain crop sOwn this fall will
therefore be one of the best guaran-
tees the Southern farmer can have
OF high-priced cotton in 1906.
But entirely apart from the effect
on cotton prices, it is worth while to
grow wheat for its own sake. Except
for the few days required for harvest
ing, the crop requires little labor;and
it also makes it easy to build up the
soil, the farmer letting Il crop ofpeas
follow the wheat.
| An enterprising fertilizer house has
Just issued pamphlet "Why Not a
Larger Area in Wheat?" in which all
these facts are forcibly brought out.
In the good old days" of the decade
before the Civil War cotton brought
| an average of twelve cents per
pound, and this was due largely to
the fact that Southern farmers made
their supplies at home, and therefore
did not make an overproductiOn of
cotton. And our booklet has some
statistics bearing on this subject
that are worth studying. with some
comment that is also too good to
Keep away from our readers:
"The fact that every farmer made
his own wheat and flour was q prime
factor in that opulent condition of
before the war
''ln the presence OF these interesting
and Invaluable facts, the inquiry is
perfectly natural-what did Georgia
in those days?
'1n 1860, Georgia produced ?, Oh
914 bushels of wheat, or "a bushels
per capita, that is, 2 bushels and
four-tenths of bushel for every man,
woman and child within her borders
I'm 1900 she harvested only l, 1G5-
947 bushels, more than 77S,OOO
bushels less than in 1SG0-a per cap
ita of only 79-1OO of q bushei.
''In 1860, North Carolina made
4, 743, FOG bushels 81 wheat-a per
capita of Al bushels.
''In 1900 she harvested / ,342 ,3J1
bushels of wheat or % bushels per
capita This was 4O1. .35S bushels
less than in 1860.
"In 1860, South Carolina produced
1,jS5,631 bushels of wheat or Is
bushels per capita.
''In 1900 she made 1,O17,319
bushels of wheat, being over PCS, 900
bushels less than 1860. per capita
OF only three pecks.
Suppose the farmers were to de-
termine to bring the per capita pro
duction OF wheat up to the figures OF
1S6O-what "a harvest there would
be of the golden grain in Georgia and
ut can be done 1t should be
done.
"The farmers of these States should
return to wheat production. Their
every interest demands it. If they
wish to make cotton a strictly money
crop rather than a purely exchange
crop, they must grow wheat enough
at least to make all the -four needed
on their farms and plantations.
''The first essential is to break the
land deep and harrow till not a clod
is left on the tract This will give n
seed-bed ready for seed and fertilizer.
Get the best seed. Plant. ifpossi-
bic, with an approved drill. Expert
ence has proved that it is better TO
drill than to broadcast wheat.
ITO prevent smut, soak the seed
twelve hours in a solution Of blue
stone. Dissolve one pound os blue
stone in twenty-four gallons ofwater.
Use enough OF the solution to cover
the seed. Spread out in the shade SO
they may dry and be ready toplant.
1T is conceded that the blue-stem
variety OF wheat is the best to date.
Next to thorough preparation
of the soil and the best seed, stands
the fertilizer adapted to the wants of
the plants FertiIize literally"