The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1917-08-15

since much wheat can be sown to ad-
vantage on oat stubble and in the
standing corn or on ground from
which the corn crop has been re-
moved for the silo or cut for fodder.
In some districts the increase in the
acreage could be made larger but
this has seemed inadvisable for fear
of d~isorganizing crop rotations with
injury to crops in succeeding years.
Basis of Increased Acreage.
Since the acreages sown last fall
are fresh in the memory of farmers,
the sowings suggested for this year
are compared with those of 1916. For
Kansas, where more than one-ffth
of the winter wheat Of the country
was sown in 1916 and a campaign
for an increase already is under way,
an increase of o r than a million
acres, or one-seventh of the total in
crease, is recommended. Ohio is
asked for one and one-tenth million
acres over last years sowings. This
is considered possible and desirable
by the agricultural leaders of the
State. Because of available land in
the State, Oklahoma is asked to in
crease the acreage %one-fourth,
amounting to more than $1,000
acres. Indiana and Illinois are each
asked to increase their acreage by
somewhat more than a half million
acres, thereby equaling what they
have sown in the recent past. Ore
.gon, because of the abnormally low
acreage sown last fall, is asked to
increase the acreage this fall by one
quarter million acres, or, SO per cent.
These six States, Kansas, Ohio, Ok
lahoma, Indiana, Illinois, and Oregon
in which nearly one-half of the win
ter wheat was sown last fall, are ask
ed to furnish considerably more than
one-half Of the increase planned for
this fall. Their agricultural leaders
think it is possible and are taking
the necessary steps to see that it is
done. r 4
The largest percentage increases
are requested in some of the South
ern States. Mississippi leads with
455 per cent increase and Georgia
comes next with 100 per, cent in
crease. Alabama is asked for so
per cent increase; Arkansas for 81
per cent; and South Carolina for 81
per cent. These Southern States are
anxious to increase their acreage by
this amount to safeguard their own
food supply. The increase in actual
acres, however, is comparatively
small in each of these cases.
Wisconsin, another State in which
the present wheat acreage is small,
is asked to increase the sowings 20
per cent. Is wheat is well adapted
to newly opened northern land and
as present prices make it a profitable
crop in the State. Montana is asked
to put in an even million acres, an
increase of nearly 80 per cent. But
this is not a large total for the en-
tire State, in view of its large acre
age of unused land suitable for
wheat: 49, y
The following States are asked to
increase their acreages 16 to 20 per
cent over those sown in the fall of
1916: New York, New Jersey, Mich
igan, Iowa, Tennessee, Arizona, Ida
no, and California. The following
States are asked to increase their
1916 acreages by II to Is per cent;
Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Vir-
ginia, North Carolina, Kentucky,
Utah, Nevada, and Washington. The
following States are asked to in
crease their 1916 acreages by 6 to
10 per cent: Delaware, Maryland,
Minnesota, Texas, Wyoming, and
New Mexico. The States of Missouri
and Colorado are each asked for 5
per cent increase, while practically
the same acreages as sown last fall
are asked for in Nebraska and South
Dakota. The excessive winter kill
ing in Nebraska and consequent lack
of seed wheat makes the situation
for wheat growers very difficult this
year in that State, but every effort
is being made to equal and increase
if possible the acreage of last year.
Most of the States for which only
small percentage increases are sug-
gested recently increased largely
their wheat acreages and are al
ready growing about as much as is
consistent with a well-balanced agri-
culture.
Rye to Be Increased Heavily.
It is recommended that there be
sown in the United States this fall
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