The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-07-22
CHANCE The SOIL
Record Wheat Crop Should Not
Excite Farmers.
Iniss Nero Corn, Alfalfa, Cat
tie and Hogs.
M0HLR s0lNpS 1 WARNING
DoA't Rush Wheak to Market
CeAters Now.
Secretary Beard Of Agriculture
Discusses Crops.

SeeretaRy Beard Of Agric1t11e
Discusses Crops.
Kansas farmers should not try for
another record wheat crop next year.
Instead they should devote more soil
space to the growing Of corn and al
1aIfa, and devote more time TO the
raising of the helpful hen. the brindle
cow and the Poland China hog. That
was the advice Of J. C. Mohler. secre-
tary Of the state board a Agriculture.
70 the ottawa. county farmers attend
Ing the Minneapolis chantAuqua-
'~Ths 1914 wheat CROP sAtd Mohler.
sis estimated at 151 milton bun1beass
value to the Kansas farmers Of los
nslifon dollars. The crop was double
that Of almost any former year. But
Il Is hardly probable that the state can
produce a similar crop next year. Xet
the tendency may be to sow record
acreage to wheat IN view OF the bumper
Yield tust harvested" 4ohler urged
the farmers to divide their soil space
and not center their energies on an
other record yield
That Bumper Wheat Crop.
THE board OF agriculture VIII have
no figures az to this years yield OF
wheat I'm Kansas untH after II In most
ly threshed. but that it il by far the
largest produced in the htatory OF the
state is generally conceded by those
who aim to keep posted. In tact. the
u. s. Department of Agriculture, In itS
forecast Of July 8. indicated an aggre-
gate Of Isl GOA 900 bushels. or twice the
average annual output. We are all re-
1ofced for this tremendous wheat crop,
an It means prosperity for everybody.
although it may be figured that
ISL million bushels, at say 70 cents q
bushel. will put $105.Oe0.00o into the
pockets OF the Kansas farmers, that
amount, or whatever the total may be,
by NO means suggests the full signifl-
canoe Of tho years crop. Besfdes the
money returns to the growers. 1t con-
tributes to the prosperity and happi-
ness Of countless others. It's bless
fngs are inestimable. It stimulates
business world Even before tho grain
was harvested the working hours Of
thousands of railroad employees were
increased to prepare maximum ac-
commodations for transportation:
huge elevators were built, which re-
1uired hands, and makers and dealers
Of harvesting and threshing ma
chinery profted by the demand for
their wares. An army OF so 900 labor
ers was imported to help handle the
crop. With proceeds from their
wheat, which IL the great cash crop.
improvements, increase bank deposits,
ana buy more gasoline for moro mo-
tor cars, for more joy rides.
Must Hold Wheat.
There are, however, some unusual
problems impOced by the unusual
wheat crop, that should receive our
best thought. While the yield Of
O. 20 oh h.
facilities for handling 1t arc practi-
cally the same as In recent years.
That means q great deal Of wheat
must be held by somebody. either in
the shock, stack. or bin. Stacked
grain Is storage on tho farm. without
F., cost. Properly stacked 1t Is safe
against the weather. will keep indefi-
nitely, may be insured, and money
borrowed ON It.
MANY extensive growers in the
wheat belt proper win doubtless hnd
Il impracticable to stack, and others
(. viii thresh from the stack and rush
their grain to market as fast as trans
portation facilities make possible. be-
cause they need the money. But, these
| conditions seem to make stacking all
! the moro desirable. By cooperation
among the neighbors Of q locality. the
farmers may get together and stack
their grain and threeh at their conve-
nience, thus safeguarding their own
interests, and at the same time. by %
Withholding the wheat, helping the
other fellow who must sell
Why Prices Are Low.
Lower prices naturally follow big
productions, but It Is imperative to the
farmers best interests to hold prices
at the highest level good management
makes possible. 1t II the dollars that
count with the farmers rather than the
number OF bushels he has garnered
and he should do every reasonable
thing to secure maximum returns from
the wheat he has. Dumping wheat or
. glutted market makes conditions II
which the grain Spectator revels, but
In which the farmer finds no Joy
Stacking clears the land for early
early blowing advisable. The srair
going through the sweat in the stacl
improves its quality. its color, condi.
ton and test Stack threshing may b
fewer men. and when Temperatures
ssThere is another possible out
growth Of this years wheat crop tina
think worth bringing to attention
and that Is the increased sowings /
may induce this coming fall In m,
opinion, and this 10 not advice, Jus
simply giving you something to turl
over IN your minds. 1t would be In
5udicious to 90 in for more acres IL
our enthusiasm because Of this year
successes, and SOW more wheat AM
depend on 1t too strongly. Farmers
operations are Of course largely gov
erned by their circumstancee, but ex
porfence has shown that too much de
pondence ON wheat often results 1,
disappointment and debt. Let us re
member that considerable areas o
wheat were soWn under unusually ia
vorahle conditions last fall-in field
that were practically summer-fallow
"a. owing to the cultivation Of cor
that failed.
Advice to Eaxmers.
TT n history that good crop season
follow dry years, as the baking Of tn,
earth. the cracking Of the soil, and tn
feot the land has had al contribute 3