Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1917-09-05
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!. MORE WHEAT FOR 4.
IL SOUTH CAROLINA. J..

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(J. G. Pridmore, Farm Service BIZ
reau, Atlanta.)
Ihe immediate war agricultural
program as approved and announced
by Secretary Houston, Of the United
states Department of Agriculture,
calls for the production of 100000
O0O bushels Of wheat in 1918. This
Is an increase of nearly SO Der cent
or the average production of the
country during the last 10 years.
Thls step Is being taken now, be-
cause 1t Is foreseen that If 1t Is not
done, the demand for wheat and
bread stuffs next year will be far in
excess of the supply. To the end that
we may be able to supply our home
needs, and at the same time furnish
bread to our allies of Europe, efforts
are now being made to increase the
"heat acreage over the entire coun-
try by q per cent. Southern States
are being asked to increase their
acreage far above this estimate, and
South Carolina Is called upon for an
increase of 81 per cent. These ap-
peals for an increased acreage come
with great earnestness from men who
understand the situation and who are
doing their best to help win the war
and to help our own people save
themselves from possible want next
year.
If South Carolina farmers as
whole comply with the wishes of
those conducting the campaign and
increase the wheat acreage of the
State by 81 per cent, there will then
be only is acres Of wheat per farm
over the entire State. Inasmuch as
the acreage per farm is small, and
since the demand for grain is to be so
great, every possible effort should be
made to put the wheat soil in the
best possible condition and thereby
produce the largest yields.
One of the important factors bear
ing upon the possible yields on prac-
tical!y every soil formation in the
State is the judicious use Of fertili-
Zers. Many tests by the South Caro-
lima Experiment Station and hun
dreds Of demonstrations throughout
the State show conclusively that the
largest possible yield OF wheat, or any
other crop, cannot be made until the
plant is supplied with the necessary
amount OF essential plant food cle-
ments. Practically all the soils of
the State are deficient in nitrogen,
phosphoric acid or potash and, and
these elements are found in CONNER
cial fertilizers. Therefore, to get the
largest possible yields, fertilizers
containing these plant foods must be
used and used literally.
While soils vary as to their compo-
sitton and needs of fertilizers, render
ing 1t impossible to state definitely
what formula should be applied, yet
at the same time 1t is safe to recon-
mend fertilizer carrying liberal
amounts Of nitrogen. phosphoric acid
and potash for best returns on prac-
tically all the soils Of the State. A
material carrying from Q to 4 per
cent Of nitrogen, to 10 per cent of
phosphoric acid, and 1 to per cent
of potash will, If applied in sufficient
~ large quantities, give profitable re-
suits. Potash. however, at the pres
ent time, Is scarce and high in price,
and while on sandy soils more than
this amount may be needed, for most
practical purposes more than this
amount Is not being used for wheat
and other field crops at the present
time.
With the proper preparation of the
seed bed and the use Of a variety Of
wheat adapted to local conditions,
seeded at the right time and rate
upon land that is fertilized at the
rate OF from 200 to 400 pounds Der
acre with such material as mention
ed above, there Is no reason why the
South Carolina farmers should not
produce enough wheat in 1918 to sup
ply all home requirements.
s-----------.----
Rev. w. NJ. Whiteside, who has for
several years been in the employ of
the Baptist State Mission Board as
evangelist In the State at large, has
accepted work in the city Of Charles
RI Yyhn hn Il