Newark post. (Newark, Del.) 1910-1969, 1918-10-02
LARGER WHEAT YIELD
FOR DELAWARE
Three Factors Determining In,
crease

Arthur Z. Grantham, agronomlst
of the Delaware College Expert
ment Station in Extension Bulletin
No. / gives the result Of expert
ments showing the effect Of fertil-
izer. variety and time Of seeding,
in determining the yield Of wheat.
While the test was conducted for
only one year, the varieties were
crown under several conditions 50 !
that the results indicate clearly |
the influence of the three factors.
Two varieties of wheat. Red Wave
and Miracle, were seeded at week
intervals beginning September II
and ending October %, on both
fertilized and unfertilized soil.
The tabu.ated results show that
the yields for both varieties de-
crease quite rapidly as the date OF
seeding is delayed; and that the
Red Wave. smooth variety yields
less than the Miracle, bearded
variety, at every date Of seeding.
A leSsened yield is also shown with
later date of seeding where fertil-
izer is used but a more marked de-
crease on unfertilized soil.
Results indicate that later seed
ing can be made safely if proper
fertilizers are used. Comparison of
variety yields shows that the Mir
acle out-yielded the Red Wave 4.43
bushels on unfertilized plats and
1l.SS bushels on the fortified.
This indicates the difference that
may exist in the yield of two we'll
known varieties when Sown under
like conditions and shows that it
pays to SOW a high yielding
variety.
The experiment shows that al
three factors, time OF seeding, fer
tilizerS and varieties are concerned
in securing a large yield Of wheat
For instance if the Red Wave hao
been seeded at an early date on
fortified land the yield would not
have been so large as if the beard
ed variety had been used. Like
wise, if the Miracle had been seed
ed on unfertilized land on Octobe
20 the yield would have been muct
larger than the Red Wave seeded
under like conditions.
Much of the wheat in Delawar,
is seeded quite late owing to tn
fact that the corn must be removed
before sowing can commence. Fo
this reason an adequate amount o
fertilizers should be used to haste
the development Of the whea
plants.
The experiment also indicate
that the amount Of fertilizer migt
be leSsened somewhat if the whes
can be seeded early and the prope
variety used. The best result
however, can be secured only whe
the proper attention is paid to tin
of seeding. fertilizers, and the 5
lection of the variety
The time of seeding is at har
and since the government asks Il
an increased yield, this bullet
furnishes an excellent guide TO Il
grower who is backing Uncle Sa
in this movement. The bullet
states with regard to increas,
production:
The use Of wheat SubStitut
during the past year has caused /
American people to place lie
values on wheat. Bread made frc
the other cereals has shown us In
there Is no really satisfactory su
stitute for wheat for bread-maki
purposes. Hence it IS necessa
that we produce enough wheat
provide bread for our armies, o
Allies. and for our home pOpu
ticn. This means that we must
crease the production Of wheat.
the basis Of previous avera
yields and acreageS the Food :
ministratiCn mas asked DELAYS
to increase the wheat acreage
at least 5 per cent. Delaware gr
$4,000 acres in 1918 and IS
pected to grow a minimum Of !;
600 acres, or a maximum OF l60,'
acres in 1919. An increase in &C
age will not give the expected z
duction if care is not taken
maintain or TO increase the "
per acre. If the proper attent
were given to cultural methods
required production would be
without increasing the acreage