The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1910-11-24
Wheat. the Greatest Bread Crop.

OUId1u eau udS CNSl OSV1A SAAN
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 it eco
nomically will be the greatest prob
lem for future generations to solve.
Wheat is, as it has been since history
began. the main cereal from which
bread is made. 1t is the most valu-
able crop of the world. No other
crop is adapted to such a wide diver
sity of soil and climate. 1t 81 grown
within the Arctic Circle and over the
EQUATOR. Each year the world con-
sumes more than 3,000,0OOO,0OO
bushels of this cereal.
The South Should produce its 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 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 Iegumes with rye should be
sown to be turned under in the
spring. If, however, the land is high
ly improved and vas well fertilized
the previous spring and summer,
either oats or wheat should be plant
ed. Wheat is not a profitble 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 great corn country,
and this year South Carolina will
probably produce as much as So
900, 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 high
ly 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 loam. Before
planting the land should be thor
oughly prepared by plowing as deep
as possible and. thoroughly harrow
ing. Clemson College experiment
station has tested a number Of va
rieties of wheat and the varieties that
have given the best results are the
Red 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 treat
ed with a solution of copper sulphate
to destroy the smut. This solution IS
made by dissolving six pounds of cop
per sulphate in 10 or 20 gallons of
water, using 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 per acre should be sown.
Wheat, like barley, should make 4
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.
Wheat is heavy feeder on phos-
phorous and nitrogen, therefore it
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
applied at the time of sowing; and
about fifty pounds should be made
the first of March, similar amount
being used. At the time the latter
application is made, nitrate of soda
at the rate of 100 pounds per acre
oh nf tho o19v