Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1910-11-22
THE GREAT BREAD CROP.
Of All Known Cereals Wheat Ranks
First.

To obtain bread has ever been the
struggle of mankind. The want of
it has CT; .sed wars and the change Of
dynasties Through the ages, the ever
constant cry has been cheaper bread.
Today, with all of our complex civili-
zation, that demand Is as potent as
ever and to obtain it economically
will be the greatest problem for future
generations to solve. Wheat is,~as 1t
has been since history began. the main
cereal from which bread is made. 1t
is the most valuable crop Of the worlA.
No other crop is adapted to such =.
wide diversity of soil and climate. 1t
is grown within the Arctic circle and
over the equator. Each year the world
consumes more than 3,000,000,000
bushels of this cereal.
The south should produce it's own
bread and it 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 our land. To
diversity properly, we must grow all
crops in systematic rotation. The
best system of crop rotation for the
south is one that contains a winter
cover crop. This cover crop can be
either a winter legume. such as bur
clover, crimson clover or vetch, or
cereal, such as wheat, oats, barley or
rye. If the soil is impoverished and
in great need Of improvement, one
of the legumes with rye should be
sown to be turned under in the spring.
II, however, the land Is highly i'm
proved and was well fertiliZed, the
previous spring and summer, either
oats or wheat should be planted.
Wheat is not a profitable crop except
when grown on rich land. The phe-
nomenally high yields Of corn that
have been produced in various sec
tions of this state during the past
few years are convincing. We know
that we have a great corn country,
and this year South Carolina will
probably produce as much as 50,000,-
900 bushels of corn. Where these
large yields of corn were obtained,
the land will be sufficiently 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 type of soil best suited to wheat
Is the clay loan. Before planting the
land should be thoroughly prepared
by plowing as deep as possible and
thoroughly narrowing. Clemson Col
or tested
number of varieties of wheat and the
varieties that have given the best re-
suits are the Red May and the Blue
Straw. Seed of these varieties can be
obtained at any Of the leading seed
houses. Before sowing, the seed
should be treated with a solution OF
copper sulphate to destroy the smut.
This solution is made by dissolving
six pounds of copper sulphate in ten
or twenty gallons Of water, using
wooden vessel in which to make the
mixture. After the seed have been
dipped for a 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 a
good growth early in the fall and un-
less the Hessian fly is prevalent In
the neighborhood. it should be sown
any time after the first Of October.
Wheat can, however, be sown later
than other of the cereals. The seed
can be sown either broadcast or har-
rowed 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 immediate germin-
alton.
phorus and nitrogen, therefore 1t
should be literally fertilized with
phosphoric acid and ammonia. At
least 800 or 400 pounds Of acid phos-
phate and 100 pounds Of cotton seed
meal, or it's equivalent, should be ap-
piled at the time Of sowing; and an
other application should be made the
first of March, similar amount be-
ing used. At the time the latter ap-
plication 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 a sufficient amount OF potash
for wheat. Wheat when planted on
the lands of the coastal plains should
also be fertilized with kainit or
muriate of potash. A second appli-
cation of nitrate Of soda of about
fifty pounds should be made the mid
die Of April.
A small patch Of wheat should be
grown on every farm for early spring
grazing and as a forage crop. Wheat
makes the best hay possible If 1T Is
cut while in the dough stage.
Prof. J. n. Harper,
Director S. C. Experiment Station.