The Mena weekly star., 1918-08-29
khRssSAS MUST
 PRODUCE WHEAT
An Obligation of Every Land Owner and Tenant To Aid Government.
By w. c. Lassetter, Director Exten
 sion Division. U. of A.

Wheat on every farm for flour is not only good farm practice for Ark ansas but the obligation of every land owner and tenant to the govern ment. Every one has some wheat land, and only the farmer who does not want 10 SOW wheat this fall will find the greatest obstacles and the most excuses.
 Food is the paramount need of the nation, and fortunately food crops can be produced without severely in terfering with other crops, which are also necessary to win the war and because of the less intensive methods required to produce food crops it is possible to greatly increase the num- Der of acress of land that may be titled by one family. Thus, food pro- duction becomes large part of the governments program for maximum production. and il is the duty of the farmer to meet the national need sor greater production of all crops by meeting the national need for food production
 Wheat is one of the food crops that lends Itself as means of meet ing this obligation. All the world eats wheat Wheatless meals and wheat. less days have testified to tse recent shortage of wheat and to the depend ence of the human race upon wheat as food
 South Must Raise Cotton and Wheat
 Since the South is the only section of the United States in which cotton can be produced, it is desirable that we maintain a reasonable production of cotton. It is recommended, there fore, in the production of wheat that We endeavor 10 produce only that which is needed for home consunp- tion. For this purpose from three to five acres are usually grown for each family on that farm.
 For wheat. choose well drained land. It is difficult, or almost i'm possible. 10 follow cotton with wheat on the richer soils. but it is an easy matter 10 remove corn in ample time to put the corn land in wheat, cutting and shocking the corn, a means that will save more feed, is the best way of getting corn land ready for wheat. Where corn is removed from the land and is put into silage the vacated land can be used for wheat On many places areas that were not cultivated this year can we'll be put into wheat Any man who wants to SOW wheat will be able to find a place on the farm for his wheat crop. It is only he who does not want to SOW who Is likely to find the greatest obstacles or the most excuses.
 Land that has been deeply pro pared for other crops need not bs broken deeply fer wheat But do nol forget that wheat requires well prepared seed bed. firm but not hard and with the surface we'll puIverized A little extra work in the prepara tion of the seed bed will be more than paid for in the increase of the crop.
 Wheat planting should not be de layed beyond the time of the frs. killing frost.
 Wherever possible, eeed should al ways be seeded with drill. The Arkansas Experiment Station in a series of tests has found difference of about four bushels per acre where grain was drilled in in comparison with broadcast seeding A grain drill will soon pay for itself in increased wheat production.
 Five to six pecks of seed per acre should be used. Nothing but the best i. seed available should be sown. Seed to depth just sufficient to insure a moisture supply which is usually from one-half to one inch deep.
 Best Varieties to Plant.
 The Arkansas Experiment Station, after many years of testing large number Of varieties at Fayetteville and in other parts of the State, rec ommends the Alabama Bluestem, the Red May, Fulcaster and Fultz as re- liable varieties. There are other good varieties but before choosing one with which you are unacquainted, be cer- tain to write the Experiment Sta tion, Fayetteville, for the record of that variety There are just as many poor varieties as there are good
 Neighbors with small acreage in wheat should cooperate in the pur- chase and use of the necessary ma, ohinery One grain drill and one binder should serve the needs of sev- eral neighbors. Practically every farm, though. should have good harrow disk or springtooth. and a good sub-surface packer.
 County Agent Will Help.
 At the present time there is a county agent in every county in East ern Arkansas. These men are ready at all times to advise the landown- CTS and tenants of their respective counties relative to the methods necessary for successful production of wheat. Since it is the obligation of the land owner and the tenant farmer to produce maximum Of crops from the largest number of acres that they can work. it becomes. therefore, their duty to consult the county agent who Is a qualified adviser in matters of farm arrangements and who Is in position to help 10 adapt tha haot rnofhoda nf Whpaf urodur-