The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1907-1917, 1911-08-17

uuCy 10 the state ana TO ourselves.
II has been demonstrated in Bibb,
Spalding, Warren and other counties,
outside the wheat belt, that wheat
can be proftably produced; that the
average yield per acre is very much
greater in point of possibility than
the government "Blue Book shows
If the State were belted, as it should
be as to special crops, Georgia would
show an area, embracing twenty
three counties which annually pro-
duce from 25,500 bushels to 11O,-
600 bushels of prime wheat. In that
array, Merriwether stands twenty
third and Barlow first. Oglethorpe
herself stands sixth in rank. Newton
and Ebert are in that belt.
Why "a wheat beIt?", you ask.
Because it would be invaluable to
home-seehers, accustomed TO grow
wheat. 1t would be shown that a ma
jority Of, the counties that would
comprise that belt grow cotton,
corn, oats and hay successfu ly. So
the wheat growers by preference
could exploit their crop to the fullest,
and learn how to produce the other
crops mentioned.
1t has long been a marvel to me
that we have not attempted to belt
Georgia ty crop production. The
feature, properly presented, would
be the finest and most convincing, as
well as captivating advertisement
that could possibly be conceived Of
The question to which | am ad-
dressing myself is not mat which re-
lates to the production of wheat for
market, albeit that Guild be very
commendable, and, at the same time,
money making.
"Seest thou man diligent in bust
ness?'' He shall sit IN the high
places of the land, and be favorably
known at the gates. Seest thou a
farmer who, year by year, makes
wheat enough for his own use, and,
Outlines some to spare, he shall
have standing among all his neigh
bors, and standing at bank, also.
The man who makes his own wheat
bread may confidently be reckoned
as an unfailing provider of the best
corn bread and the choicest home
cured meat for his entire household.
I grant you it is little early to
begin to talk about the next wheat
crop, but not too early. In this year
OF grace, Georgia ought to plan to
do better than she has ever attempt
ed TO do in wheat growing. Why not?
She has the soil and the seed; the
men and the appliances.
Deep ploughing is not desirable for
this valuable crop. The grain should
not be sown when the soil is dusty.
Wait bit; it will profit you.
1t is known that wheat should not
be sOwn until a killing frost; be-
cause Of The Hessian fly which is
so destructive Of the plants. A down
right frost never fails to- put the pest
out of commission.
Wheat delights in rotation. 1t
will do better following COW peas or
clover than wheat. Again, 1t does
not like a mellow soil, but prefers
clay bottom. Fresh stable manure
is not adapted to wheat, for the rea-
son that it tends too strongly to the
development of stem and leaf. There
are those who believe thai it other
wise Injuries the crop. Well rotted
stable manure will make grain.
There is a lamentable and an I'M
avoidable lack of stable manure in
Georgia and in her sister Southern
States. The reason is an old story,
with which everybody is perfectly
familiar
Time is the prerequisite to
financial condition that will place the