The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1913-07-31
ALL CORN VERSUS WHEAT

"Since certain spots in the state
have lost their wheat crops this sea
son, some newspapers are going so
far as to advocate the abolition OF
wheat raising, talking as IL corn were
the only certain CROP" says Marley
Champlin, Assistant Agronomist at the
| State College when recently inter
viewed upon this important question.
There is always a tendency to jump
from one extreme to the other. Early
oats were abandoned by many be-
cause early drouth injur' d them one
season. Others quit growing durum
wheat and began growing bluestem,
because the hot winds came in 1910
just in time to catch the durum in its
most tender period, that is, while
blooming, but missed the bluestem
which was later in heading.
Now some talk Of abandoning all
wheat and growing all corn. That Of
course is impossible, on account of lack
OF labor, but there may be much dan
ger that more corn will be planted
than can be properly cultivated. Poor
ly cultivated, weedy corn fields, are
not desirable. Fortunately, there Is
not any immediate danger Of the total
abandonment Of wheat growing, except
among some OF the most radical
Every now and then we have to go
to the Chinese to learn something"
said Mr.. Champlin, when discussing
some Of South Dakotais experimental
work the ether day. They gave us
powder and first invented printing
and many other arts originated with
them. What is true in industry. is true
in farming.
The Chinese have a custom of grow
ing grain in rows and cultivating it.
Since there is much of Il state where
small grains frequently fail by ordi-
nary methods of planting, it was de-
cided to adapt the ~Chinaman's method
for our use. Accordingly a trial is 10
in progress at the Highmore Substa-
ton. Oats and barley are being used
in the experiment. One field is planted
in the usual way and not cultivated.
Another field is planted in drills,
twelve inches apart and cultivated
with the spring tooth weeder. A third
field consists OF double rows six inches
apart with a skip of thirty-six inches
which is cultivated. A fourth field is
,own with rows in threes, six inches
apart with a skip of thirty inches for
1t will thus be seen that
,nly three-eighths as much seed is
lsed by this method as is used in ordi-
larry planting. This season the later
Is proving best of all. The
fields wilted and have been
ut for hay. All of the cultivated plots
a fair yield Of grain.
Everyone who has lived in the Gen.
raj part of the state will Immediately
&C tlNc SISdL duNdllId6tS vi u LlSluOu
hat will produce grain crops in un-
avorable seasons even IL the yield
5 not quite as heavy as in favorable
easons. The price Is nearly always
Ugh in ~unfavorable eason and low in
avorable seasons, so that the man who
reduces twenty bushels Of grain
very year Is ahead Of the man who
reduces thirty bushels one year, ten
year, and twenty another, even
hough their average yield is the same.
when this experiment has run
several seasons, so that an
verage can be secured, the informa-
lon will be published in a bulletin
exactly what took place and
he comparative profit per acre from
he various methods will be given"