The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1915-08-05
GREAT PLAINS WHEAT.
Gsked Corn Land Gives Good Re-
suits.

ing factor" is one of II conclusions
drawn from extensive experimental
work carried on by IA stations over
a series of years and dealt with at
length in United States department OF
agriculture bulletin No. PA. Spring
Wheat in the Great Plains Area
Relations of Cultural Methods OF Pro-
duction." The Great Plains area in
cludes parts of 10 States. 10000
square miles of territory, taking in
much of North Dakota, South Dakato'
Montana, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklaho-
ma, and parts of Colorado, Wyoming.
New Mexico. and Texas. In these
States Ii stations have worked on
these spring wheat problems. North
ern Colorado and Kansas seem, from
these investigations, to be the south
ern limi, of profitable spring wheat
production on the Great Plains. OF
course this limitation does not apply
to winter wheat and other crops.
Among the general conclusions
brought out by study of the results
at the IA stations is one that shows
the average difference in the yields OF
spring wheat following fall plowtng
and spring plowing is very small. At
most stations the advantage of one
over the other depends upon the sea-
son. The data obtained indicate the
Importance of understanding the gen
eral principles that govern the OBJ
served seasonal variations and the
Importance of adjusting this work to
the general economy of farm organi-
zation.
Corn Ground Favors Wheat.
Disked corn ground has given con-
sistently high yields. This, together
with the low cost of this preparation
for wheat, has resulted in its uniform
showing of the greatest profit per
acre at those stations where it has
been possible to raise wheat at a
profit and the least loss at those sta
tions and where wheat has been rals-
ed only at loss. The realization OF
these profits, however, depends upon
the successful growth of corn as
general farm crop in competition
with other crops, according to the
deductions drawn in this bulletin.
Subsoiling, as compared with
wheat stubble fall plowed without
subsoiling, has been of doubtful utili-
ty as a means of increasing yields.
AS a. means of overcoming drought
il is without value. Only in the Ju-
dith Basin and Scottsbluff has it ac-
counted for an increase Of more than,
one bushel per acre. The evidence
from eight stations, some OF Whlch
have records of study covering eight
years, on the depth OF plowing, which
includes deep tilling and dynamiting,
would seem to be conclusive that the
nature of the plains and the trend OF
their agriculture are not to be chang
cd bv the simple expedient of work
ing them to a greater depth than
reached by the ordinary plow and
equipment.
Listing wheat stubble instead OF
blowing it in the fall has resulted IN
a small increase in yield at seven OF
the eight stations where it was tried.
Summer tillage has given the high
est average yields of any method un-
der trial, except at the Judith BASIN
and Akron stations. However, on ac-
count of it's high cost, due to extra
labor and alternate-year cropping, 1t
has not been the most profitable prac-
tice.
Green Manuring Expensive.
Green manuring is the most eXpen-
sive method under trial. 1t resem-
bles a fallow in that it requires the
use of the land for two years for the
production of one harvested crop with
the added expense of seed and seed
ing. There is a saving Of cultiva-
ton during the spring while the
green manure crop is growing, but
this is Offset by the necessity of plow-
ing to turn the crop under and is
not sufficient to make up for the cost
of seed and seeding. Yields have not
been commensurate with the increas-
ed cost of production. 1t is hardly
fair to charge the whole cost of green
manuring to the one crop that imme-
diately follows it as is done in this
bulletin. 1t should have cumulat-
i've effect in building up the soil or
remedying its deficiency in organic
matter. The evidence shows that on
normal soils in the Great Plains at
least in the first years of the work
little effect from green manuring is
shown on other than the first crop.
Farm Management Big Factor.
One fact standing out prominently