Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-07-12

end at best will not come until after
I 1919. If il does. we have much to ne
I thankful for: if it does not. we should
prepare for every issue by which we
are likely to be confronted. One OF
( these Nigh; easily be a partial failure
of the wheat crop in 1919. Therefore,
( il our sranaries are filled Through the
, kindness of Providence in 1918, II viii
be in accordance with national wisdom
and a wise precautiOn to set aside a
part of the present wheat crop for in
surance against disaster in 1919. our
allies were almost overtaken by such
a fate the past year, and il was chiefly
due TO the fact that before the subma-
rine campaign reached its height ana
there was material cutting down in the
world tonnage for the transportation
of food. they allowed their people prac-
ticauy a normal pre-war ration and
made no special effort to store up large
supplies of wheat and flour. The les
son O. what they escaped through our
aid and sacrifice is fresh in our mem-
ory and we can not afford to commit
with our eyes open like error.
II we have the good fortune TO pro-
duce ESQ million TO one billion bushels
of wheat and Canada produces a good
crop as we'll, we should set aside 200 to
aWW mAtllOn uluSnGlS d. ii ACSCA e We
can easily live on 500 million bushels
and still allow a surplus of 100 to 200
million bushels to go abroad. To do
this we shall probably have to live on
IL pounds of flour per capita per month
after September I. with the balance II
the ration made up of some of the large
variety of wheat substitutes which this
country produces in such superabun-
dance In other words, the prospects
are now that we shall have twice as
much flour to eat as during the great
er part Of the past year. The normal
consum ption OF flour in the United
States is is pounds per capita per
month. Therefore, we would be expect
ed to consume the equivalent of 9
pounds of wheat substitutes each
month AS a matter of fact. the aver
age individual does not consume IL
pounds of flour, so that comparatively
sacrifice will be entailed in carrying
this program into effect. If this is done.
we will have taken out life. insurance
as il WERE against the failure or the
wheat crop in 1919. Since the winning
Of the war and the maintenance of dem
Ocracy and economic freedom reyolve
primarily about wheat production. we
should under existing circumstances
make every conceivable effort to pro-
duce maximum crop of wheat in
1919 To accomplish this end we must
begin now for certain preparations or
the land will prove much more desir-
able than others.
In the south we have a very definite
part to play in the national program
OF wheat production. We viii be call
ed on again next fall to double our acre
age and our yield. Georgia, for in
stance. was successful in more than
doubling the yield in 1918 over the pre-
vious year. and made a very substan-
tiaI increase in acreage. The yield was
quite satisfactory, many farmers gath
ering from 10 to IL bushels per acre
from comfortable areas OF land. Last
fan was not a particularly favorable
season for seeding wheat. The ground
was dry and delayed the planting un-
til very late. There was no nitrate of
soda available for a top dressing this
spring. vet where the crop was put IN
on land which was properly prepared.
nationally fertilized and cared for,
quite a good yield was obtained. More
over this land was left in fine condi-
ton for second crop, so that the
farmer was not hardshipped by his
production of wheat. This is true of all
that section of the state infested by
the boil weevil where crop rotation has
now become an essential part of our
farming program.
To meet the requirements of the sit
uation and do our full part in wheat
production in 1919, every farmer should
at this season of the year, provided he
has not already done so, set aside five
or more acres, depending on the size of
his plantation, TO be devoted to the
production of wheat. This land should
be Immediately sown in cowpeas or any
other leguminous crop which will en-
rich il with nitrogen and improve its
hpysical condition. Use at least 800
rounds of acid phosphate under the le-
gume. II the land is rich, which is not
often true, the cowpeas may be cut for
hay. The harvesting should be done
not later than the 18TH of September.
The land should then be broken or
al least cross-disked several times. and
the wheat seeded in the northern part
Of the state about October 1; in the
middle part, about October Is; and In
the southern part, from October Is to
November IS. An extended experience
indicates that the early seeding of
wheat cannot be emphasized too strong
~. Late seeding results in poor stand
OF sickly plants. the greater part of
which frequently succumb TO an occa-
sional cold snap. Then the wheat is