The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1910-11-19
WHEAT. THE GREATEST BREAD
CROP.
Clemson Extension WOrk-Article
XIV.

To obtain bread has ever been the
struggle of mankind. The want of
II has caused wars and the change
of dynastles. Through the ages. the
ever constant cry has been cheaper
bread. Today with all of our COM
plex civilization 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 it has been since
history began. the main cereal from
which bread is made. Ii is the most
valuable crop of the world. No other
crop is adapted to such a wide di-
versity of soil and climate. 1t is
grown within the Artc Circle and
over the Equator. Each year the
world consumes more than 5000, ,O00.-
900 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 one 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 winter legume, such
as bur clover, crimson clover or
vetch, or a cereal such as wheat,
oats, barley or rye. If the soil is
impoverished and In great neeS of
Improvement. one of the legu. les
with rye should be sOwn to he turn
ed under in the spring. II. howev-
er, the land is mighty improved and
was well fertilizcd the previous
spring and summer. either oats or
wheat should : planted. Wheat is
not profitable crop except when
Srown on rich land. The phenomi-
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 Carolina will probabir
produce as much as $4,000, 900 BUSH
els of corn. Where these large
yields NJ corn were obtained, the
land will be sufficiently improved for
wheat. There are thousands Of acres
of land i'm this State that were plant
ed in corn this season and highly
fertilized that should he sown down
I'm wheat this fall. Now is the time
to SOW; IL is not too late. Wheat can
he 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 thor
oughly prepared by plowing as deep
Us possible and thoroughly harrow
ing. Clemson College Experiment
''''''' mas ttSNtu a HuHlDcr oI va
ricties Of wheat and the varieties
that have given the hest results are
the Red May and the Blue Straw.
Seed Of these varieties can he OBJ
tanned at any of the leading seed
houses. Before sowing the seed
should he treated with a solution of
copper sulphate to destroy the smut.
This solution is made by dissolving
8 pounds of copper sulphate in 10
or 20 gallons of water, using a wood
den vessel I'm which to make the mix
ture. After the seed have been Dip
ped for few minutes. they should
he spread out to dry before SOW
ing. Four To six pecks Of seed per
acre should he sown.
Wheat. like barley. should make n
good growth early I'm the fall and
unless the Hessian fly is prevalent in
the neighborhood. II should be sown
any time after the first of October.
What can, however. be sown later
than other of the cereals. The seed
can be sown either broadcast or
narrowed In o. planted with grain