Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1910-11-23
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/. CLEMSON EXTENSION WORK !.
!. Article XIV. j.
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Wheat, the Greatest Bread Crop.

sEsTtrS S''S'~S.'S''S>'S'S
Wheat, the Greatest Bread Crop.
To obtain bread has ever been
the struggle of mankind. The want
Of it has caused wars and the change
Of dynasties. Through the ages, the
ever constant cry has been cheaper
bread. To-day, with all of our COM
plex civilization, that demand is as
potent as ever, and to obtain 1t eco
nomically will be the greatest prob
lem for future generations to solve
Wheat is, as it has been since his
tory began, the main cereal from
which bread is made. 1t is the most
valuable crop of the world. No other
| crop Is adapted to such wide di-
versity of soil and climate. 1t is
grown within the Arctic Circle and
over the Equator. Each year the
world consumes more than 3,OOO,-
| 100000 bushels Of this cereal.
The South should produce its own
bread and 1t will when It's farmers
| fully realize the advantage and full
value of diversified farming. Diver
sified farming Is the only key that
will unlock the chest Of gold that
lies hidden in every acre Of land.
To diversity properly, we must grow
all crops In systematic rotation. The
best system Of cotton rotation for
the South Is one that contains win
! ter cover crop. This cover crop can
be either winter legume, such as
bur clover, crimson clover or vetch,
or a cereal, such as wheat, oats, bar
ley or rye. If the soil is impover-
ished and in great need Of improve
ment, one Of the legumes with rye
should be sown to be turned under
In the spring. If, however, the land
Is highly improved and was well fer
tilted the previous spring and sum-
mer, either oats or wheat should be
planted. Wheat is not profitable
crop except when grown, on rich
land. The phenomenally high yields
of corn that have been produced in
various sections Of this State during
| the past few years are convincing
We know that we have a great corn
country, and this year South Caro-
lima will probably produce as much
as 50,O00,000 bushels of corn
Where these large yields of corn
were obtained, the land will be sufli-
ciently improved for wheat There
are thousands Of acres Of land in
this State that were planted in corn
| this season and highly fertilized that
should be sown down in wheat this
fall. Now is the time to SOW; it is
not too late. Wheat can be planted
as late as the middle OF December.
The t"pe Of soil best suited to
| wheat is the clay loan. Before
planting, the land should be thor
ouShly prepared by plowing as deep
| as possible and thoroughly harrow
ing. Clemson College Experiment
| station has tested number Of vari-
cites Of wheat and the varieties that
| have given the best results are the
| rcd May and the blue straw. Seed
OF these varieties can be obtained at
any OF the leading seed houses. Be-
fore sowing, the seed should be
| treated with a solution of conner
Sulphate to destroy the smut This
solution is made by dssolving six
! pounds of copper sulphate in ten or
twenty gallons of water, using a
wooden vessel in which to make the
| mixture. After the seed have been
dipped for few minutes, they
should be spread out to dry before
sowing. Four to six pecks Of seed
per acre should be sown
Wheat like barley, should make
Il good growth in the early fall and
unless the Hessian fly is prevalent in
the neighborhood 1t should be sown
any time after the first Of October.
Wheat can, however, be sown later
than any other Of the cereals. The
seed can be sown either broadcast
| or narrowed in or planted with a
| grain drill. The latter method is
the best for the seed are placed far
enough below the surface to obtain
sufficient moisture to cause immedi-
ate termination.
Wheat is heavy feeder on phos-
phorous and nitrogen, therefore it
should be literally fertilized with
phosphoric acid and ammonia. AT
least 400 or 500 pounds Of acid
phosphate and 100 pounds of cotton
seed meal, or its equivalent, should
be applied at the time OF sowing,
and another application should be
made the first Of March, a similar
amount being used At the time the
latter application IS made, nitrate Of
soda, at the rate OF 100 pounds per
acre, should be applied Most Of the
clay lands Of the Piedmont section
Of this State contain sufficient
amount Of potash for wheat Wheat
when planted on the lands Of the
coastal plain should also be ferti-
lized with kainit or muriate Of pot
ash. A second application of nitrate
Of soda OF about so pounds should
be made the middle OF April
A small patch Of wheat should be
grown on every farm for early spring
grazing and as forage crop. Wheat
makes the best hay possible If it is
cut while in the dough stage.
j. N. Harper,
Director S. G.. Experiment Station