The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1911-08-03
Better Wheat Crops in Missouri.

-. '>'|iHNi ~; isr'iiAS 1/.'''s-'' VI liz
Agronomy Department, Missouri
Experiment Station
Because Of the comparatively large
profit and certainty Of the corn crop,
there has been in the last few years
an cxcess In the corn acreage which
has resulted in an injury to the
ground and reduction In the yield
The excess can also be accounted for
by the fact that the hessian fly and
the chinch bug did 80 mucn destruc-
ton In the wheat crop and caused the
farmers to lose interest In 1t. Few
men have stopped TO figure the com.
parativc cost and returns vt the two
crops,
The statistics kept by tho state
show that the corn and wheat crops OF
Missouri Just little more than pay
rent on the land To increase the
profits the yields must be increased.
The first step in increasing the
yields Is to rotate the crops. At tn"
Missouri Experiment Station the re-
suits Of the two methods Of cropping
nave UtcI LuOIOu6HIy tOhhPa'|''
While the plots on which the same
crop has been grown continuously Tor
The last 20 years have not paid Tor
the cost OF production, those growing
corn in rotation with other crops pro
duced BO.2 per cent more than the con-
tlnuous cropping ones. Wheat yields
Increased 28.4 per cent during the
same time, due to rotation.
The differences in the variety OF
wheat are not 80 great as some OF the
other factors. There are many good
varieties grown In the state HOW
ever. 1t pays to use pure seed or
given variety and keep II pure on the
farm.
The wheat Is best adapted to close
soil. It Ia a shallow roofing crop. CON
seauently II the soil is very porous
the plants are heaved out in winter
and the soil washed from around them
in spring. So any variety OF wheat
will do best on the above mentioned
type Of soil where 1t Is held most
firmly In the ground. However much
can be done to make such a condition
In other types Of soil. Too often our
farmers pIow their ground late and
are unable to crush the clods, then
SOW the grain when 1t IL not well COW
cred. and do not get down to the
moist dirt 80 It can germinate at
once. Consequently, a poor stand OF
weak plants results. These are never
able to Withstand . severe winter,
Flowing for wheat should be done
AZ early In the summer az possible
and frequent cultivation made over
the top Of the ground. This Will
allow the connection between the sur
face soil and the subsoll to be re-
sumed, and will make hne seeded
on TOP. Liberal use OF the roller Is
recommended, then . fine seeded
made on top with spring tooth mar
row.
Many farmers practice following
wheat after corn, either cutting up the
corn or sowing It between the corn
rows. II the corn has been cut up.
the ground should be disked thorough
" before the wheat 10 put IN, or II II
n the intention to SOW between the
rows. late cultivation Of the corn
should be practiced. in order to keep
the ground free OF weeds and loose
seed bed on top. Al good results can
not b. expected BY sowins wheat af.
tar corn q by sowing on plowed
ground.
FOR north Missouri wheat may be
sown from September I to 18th. or II
the season u late, even Q few days
later. In south Missouri II 10 not ad'
visable 70 sow earlier than the 9oth
G September. and sewing may be