The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1917-08-18
Seeding the 1918 Wheat Crop in
Western Kansas

Seeding the 1918 Wheat Crop in
Western Kansas
In 1914 Kansas raised $50, 900, 900
bushels of wheat from 100000
acres of land. Now the country is ask
ing and Kansas is setting itself the
job of raising 20O,000,0O0 bushels of
wheat from 10, 100000 acres in 1918.
Most of this increase must come from
Western Kansas for the eastern part
of the state is not capable great ex-
| tension OF the cropping area.
Much difficulty has been encounter
ed in preparing a seeded but August
and September offer some time for
this work. Late August and early Sep
TENDER blowing should be shallow.
| Disking Is a good practice for late
seeded preparation where the weeds
are not too large. If the weeds inter
fere with working the land they
should be moved and stacked for hay
or put in silos. The disk will then put
the land in good shape for wheat.
Early preparation is always advan-
tageous for time IS allowed for set
thing and packing the soil and liberia.
ton of abundant plant food.
Securing seed wheat for all the
people of Western Kansas is a big
problem. Every one should secure
his seed from his own bin, from his
|
possible. This will relieve the rail
roads from a heavy burden, save
money for the wheat grower, and as
sist in the distribution of the seed
Where new seed is available it should
be cleaned and graded, for the screen
ings of shriveled and broken grains
are too valuable to be put in the
ground. Five to fifteen per cent. of
the new wheat will grade out and
the balance will make good seed. A
termination test of seven lots of new
seed from different counties made at
the Fort Hays Experiment Station
shows that the new crop may be de-
pended upon to produce vigorous and
thrifty plants.
At seeding time there should be
sufficient moisture present in the soil
to terminate the seed quickly and per
NIT to root well down into the soil.
Under dry conditions the small poor
ly developed plant may die before
rains come. If the sedbed is we'll pre-
pared and there is an abundance of
moisture and plant food in the soil,
seeding may be done safely as late as
October 18th. Stubble land and late
blowing should be seeded during the
first half of September. Early plow-
ing and fallow land may be seeded
later. Likewise the best prepared
land may be seeded at a lower rate
than the land that is late plOwed OF
stubbled in. Two pecks of good grad
ed seed on good summer fallOw plant
ed September 1 and Is at the Fort
Hays Experiment Station has made
higher yields than higher rates plant
ed on the same dates.
, The Hessian fly has made itself
felt in parts of Western Kansas dur
ing the last few years but 1t is un,
likely that serious damage will occur
again for several years. October to
5, is considered the fly free date over
most of Western Kansas and where
the fly is known to be present it vii
be well to seed late in September.
This season is one of the extreme:
which will require the most careful
; work and planning if best results are
: secured. Grading the seed careful
l regulation of the rate and date OF
seeding and to the character of the
l seeded and securing seed neal
2 home, will effect a saving that will b'
. considerable under the high cost OF
l seed wheat and transportation.