The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1919-12-27
ACREAGE or WHEAT
REDUCED IN WAYNE;
FLY DOES DAMAGE
D. WILLIAM r. sANnoRN

I'll UUD UAIylAUI|
~ WILLIAM r. SANeoRN
!. Az complete and az careful survey
% Il II now possible to make Of the
wheat fields Of Wayne county leaves
much to be desired, in the way Of alb
solutely authentic information or data.
That the acreage has been reduced
Is q certainty, and that the early
sown grain Is more or less infested
with the fly is also assured. Just what
percentage Of the crop will have to be.
plowed up is matter of opinion, and
In this the Judgment OF the farmers
differs widely.
There Is q feeling that where a half
crop is promised along In April. and
even less, that much Of the wheat
will be left to mature. because Of the
expected high prices at the next
harvest.
In the first place it is realized that
the hessian fly is country wide pest.
and that every bushel Of wheat will
oe needed. Many anticipate $3.50 or
better for Wayne wheat at the ma
chimes next season. and that in itself
Is tempting consideration.
Wheat Not Damaged.
It Is also fact that there is q large
acreage trhat, up to this time shows
no damage whatever, indeed is most
promising. Among the men lucky en-
cugh to be able to make that kind of
q report is Frank Jones, q Richmond
, man who said on Saturday morning
that his 80 acres out northeast of town
is the finest ever, that It lies thick
and green as moss. and that II warm
weather does not develop, the ny or
some other pest, that he expects a
crop to be proud Of. His wheat was
all sown late in October and Novem-
Der.
Asked as to the probability Of farm
ers sowing spring wheat where the
| winter crop is plowed up, Mr.. Jones
! said that some would replace with
spring seed. no doubt, others will plant
oats, or will let their winter grain
mature and SOW to clover. because Of
the need for rotation, and because
! that this county or section is not well
adapted to growing spring varieties.
The rotation of crops Is almost a
fetish in this section of Indiana. This
largely accounts for the average wheat
acreage from year to year in this dis
trict. The tendency will be to save
all the wheat possible on this account,
and because Of the feeling that half
crop in 1920 will bring as much money
as good crop in ordinary years.
| When asked If he knew of condi-
lions. Omer Whelan stated that he
had heard no one state that they in
tended to pillow up wheat. Doubtless
some would pillow it up and plant it
in oats or SOW clover, but that he had
learned Of no farmer who believed that
the late sown wheat would prove a
failure. He was hopeful for fair
crop in the main, and assured that
prices would suit the farmer, regard
less of the feeling of consumers who
would be glad to see much lower
prices for flour
John Mcclure, living south of
Richmond, sowed wheat on September
20. He says the outlook isn1 very
promising, but regardless OF how his
wheat may turn out, he intends to
harvest 1T, If worth while, or to let
| it mature and SOW clover, to keep step
in his rotation. Hugh Williams
states that the farmers seem optimis-
tic; that wheat will be general fail
ure. is not anticipated, and that 1t is
really too early to tell what will
happen to the crop.
| Alton Hale states that the acreage
has been cut in his district, and that
he himself alternated with rye this
fall and planted. no wheat. His
neighbour, Charles Ridenour, reduced
his acreage Is per cent last fall, SOW
ing but 30 acres against 40 acres har-
vested last summer.
| April viii Tell Story.
Late March or early April will be
awaited with great expectancy, and
it will take few warm sunshiny days
to develop growth and color before
one can decide as to what kind of
a crop may be anticipated. The fact
seems to be this: Some farmers, ow.
ing to the high price of wheat, in
creased their acreage last year regard
less of rotation, the temptation being
great These have cut their acreages
literally. Many have as great an
acreage this year as last year, some
having even moro land in wheat, be-
in a liberal acreage. Very few who
| planted early feel assured OF even
fair crop, while those who sowcd late
are hopeful of an average crop, at the
worst, and of good prices for every
| bushel threshed next summer.
| The snow will prove of benefit, and
a still heavier fall is is hoped for.
The weather to come is of first i'm.
portance, and If the fly may later
| tackle and infest fields now rich in
promise. Is a problem for which time
il the only solution. 1t is doubted If
wawne county has cut its wheat acre
j age more than ten per cont. although
this is not statewide or country
wide condition in winter wheat states.
Should spring days develop a very
heavy damage in winter. wheat sec
lions, it may be considered certain
that we are to see the largest acreage
of spring wheat, both in the United
States and Canada, within our exper-
+. fence. The need of wheat and the Ger.
tainty of high prices will assure this
Prof. Lindley to Attend
National Science Meeting
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