Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1917-02-08
VITAL WHEAT NEEDS
WILL BRING SUCCESS
Leaving undone Any One Of Four
Necessary Steps Means
Partial Failure.

II there are four essential and necss.
sary steps In growing a crop, and We
follow three and neglect one, often
We might Just as well have omitted
the three since poor crop Is certain
10 follow. Whoever uses good seed,
prepares o fine, firm seed bed, uses
lime. but neglects to supply wheat
With available plant food In sufficient
quantities VIII not harvest the largest
number OF bushels Of best quality
wheat.
Helping Baby Plants.
You cannot grow strong, sturdy
wheat plants from = Elusgish start.
The tiny plants need assistance from
termination to maturity. The roots
take up in solution ammonia. phos.
phortc acid and potash. These plant
food elements are found In the soil.
being gradually available to the crop,
the deficiency Of plant food Is sup
Piled through fsrtilisers. They are
carried TO the growing leaves, and IN
der the action Of sunlight. are manu-
featured into plant cell material that
makes plant growth. Ammonia Is the
food that helps baby plants by giving
them q dark green color and produc-
ing stalk growth. Plenty Of available
ammonia in the fertilizer gives the
young plants running start.
Harris In Cornell University Bulle-
Tin s53 states:
"The number OF kernels of wheat
Per pot increased with the fertilizer.
Filling the Kernels.
Wheat Is grown primarily for the
grain. Phosphoric acid is the plant
food that is most intimately concerned
with forming and filling the kernels
Late In June or early In July, the tiny
wheat flowers open and become fertile
and the new wheat berries begin TO de
Yelop. The time between the flowers
becoming fertile and the complete
flling OF the kernels Is very short
not over ten days or two weeks In
most cases. AS the kernel contains
rs per cent Of the phosphoric acid Of
the plant, this plant food ingredient
plays q very important part in filling
the kernel and making the crop.
Thatcher holds that the relative
protein content Of grain is determined
chiefly, II not wholly, by the rapidly
Of ripening of the kernel. Thus it ID
easily seen that the amount Of phos
phorie acid available for plant food
at this time may determine the quality
and yield Of the crop.
Strengthening STRAW.
The third essential plant food, pot
ash. gives strength TO the straw, as
sists in the transportation and laying
down OF the starch in the kernel and
along with phosphoric acid pumps the
grain. II the kernels are shriveled OF
small, the straw weak and inclined
TO lodge, more potash should be ap
piled in the fertilizer Available am
monia, phosphorio acid and potash ard
the three plant foods applied in ferti
lixers. They cause plant or stall
growth, form heavy, plump kernels
hasten maturity and make strong
straw, insure good clover catches ant
quality wheat. Fertilizers should b.
detected of such an analysis as will
make up for the deficiencies Of The
available plant food in the soil anc
supply the special needs Of the whea
under various farm conditions. Best
results will be secured by using z0t
to 400 pounds of fertilizer on loan OF
clay soils analyzing 2 to per cent
ammonia, s to IL per cent phosphoriC
acid and 2 to 4 per cent. potash. Or
sandy or poor soils more ammonis
should be used. Owing to the war con
ditions making potash scarce and higf
priced, a much smaller percentage o.
potash Is advisable until these abnor
NAL conditions adjust themselves.
Fertilizers give crops a quick start
strengthen straw, hasten maturity
better the quality and increase yield!
and profits.