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70
X1
VolJ
;i No. 33
SATURDAY, AUGUST 18, 1917
$1 a Year, 5c. a Copy
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IP
Timet? Farm, Suggestions
DyTAlT BUTi-ER
J
Places of Wheat and Oats in
Southern Farming
excccpt where the Hessian fly does compared with the value of the cot
serious damage. We feel certain from ton crop (not counting seed), it
a careful study of the actual results would appear that oats, wheat ami
obtained that the early sowed wheat corn are not the most valuable crops
matures . earlier,, suffers less from which the Southern farmer grows. .
rust, and makes much the larger
yields. In some sections the Hessian
fly may make it necessary to sow
0
ATS are better adapted to the soil
and climate of the south than any
a mi
of the other small gram's, mere is
no part of the South where oats may
not be grown profitably if proper re
gard is had for methods -and time of
fore, when the seeding is late, or if
the land is poor, it may pay to use
a little, nitrogen in the fertilizer at wheat so late that it will not be up
this time. There is no question but and large enough to offer an oppor-
the time to apply the phosphorus is turnty for the fly to lay its eggs, until
when the' seed is sowed, for it can the first killing or white frost. In
then be distributed in the soil and the Cotton Belt, however, we are
since it is not largely leached out it convinced the danger from the fly
will be available for feeding the crop from early seeding of wheat has
AVERAGE VALUE CP COTTON LINT PKft ACRE ON
DEC. 1. ton A fKBIOD Oh" 10 YKA&d im-1916:
Virginia .$27.23 Tenneaseo 20.89
North Carolina ... 27.91 MUstosimi 19.6$
South Carolina ... 24.40 Louisiana 17. U
Georgia 21.15 Arkansas 19.53
Florida 19.59 Oklahoma ........ 18.1J
Alabama 18.62 Texas 17.15
In the light of these facts, we think
it safe to state that considered from
$ht point of money value alone it
does not pay the Southern farmer to
grow oats and wheat, and probably
bntinf? rust resistant varieties and when it is needed. But nitrogen is -- been much exaggerated, but north of the same might be, said of corn. But
ti e other crops to be grown in a ro-leached from the soil when it be- the Cotton Belt, or in any section notwithstanding this seeming fact it
tile Ul f rfman fntiiKlo r r nrniloKlo fvr (ai1
Nation witn menu . - , . . .
Wheat is much more subject to soil mg the crop. It is most needed when
and climatic conditions, and only the crop makes its ; largest growth,
Certain sections and generally only and since this is in the spring that is
u rtWn third or half of the cotr the time the nitrogen should be ap-
Rplr should arrow wheat largely plied.
L'il -.'v
ncpfnl Southern cropif proper regard atlu puo!piiiic ui puuuus j4 siama uu uui ma Swvwi
had for the selection" 01 suitable mu iuiacu lcnuuci uc uppmu uunug mc -jau. wcamti ui wiu..i,
ana tnen in tne spring wnen tne oais ucucc n is uupoiwui uicjr
where damage from the fly is mate
rial, late seeding should bepracticed.
Of course, the fertility of the soil
and the varying seasons moisture
and advent .of cold weathervery
greatly influence the best date for
wLa mav ho nnHA n At tne time ot seeaing pounas seeaing. out it is cenan mi mcsc
i;
soil, varieties, etc, but the bouth as a
whole is not well adapted to the
growing of wheat. The soils are gen
erally not rich enough and the cli
matic conditions too favorable to the
development of rust. "
Wheat should be grown on most
farms, especially in the northern
third of the Cotton Belt; but oats
will be found a much more reliable
crop taking the South as a whole.
Where the soils are suitable and
experience has shown that wheat is
a reasonably safe crop," a larger acre
age than usual should be sowed this
fall. It is a valuable food crop and
the supply of wheat is -short. In ad
dition, another food crop, like "peas,
beans or peanuts may be grown on
the land the same year. : :
and wheat begin to make their larg
est and most rapid growth, if nitro
gen is needed, 75 to 100 pounds of ni
trate of soda or a fourth less of sul
phate of ammonia should be applied,
as a top-dressing. The need for ni
trogen is pretty clearly indicated by
the color and growth of the young
plants when they begin to grow in
the spring. If they do not take on a
dark green color and start a vigorous
growth it is pretty good evidence
that the supply of available nitrogen
is deficient and an application of
commercial nitrogen is likely to
prove profitable unless other condi
tions for crop growth are unfavora
ble. - . '.
cure a good root ana matce a gooa
top growth before the cold weather
of winter comes on, if they arc to.
withstand the winter freezes and
make the best yields.
We suggest the following dates
for seeding wheat in the Cotton Belt:
In the northern third, from Oc
tober 1 to October 15.
In the middle third, from Octo
ber 15 to November 1.
In the southern third, from No
vember 1 to November 15.
Varieties of Wheat Best Adapted
to the South
THERE is no best variety of wheat
for any part of the South. Any
one of several varieties is likely to
do as well as any other. But the
tests at the experiment stations havei
pointed out certain varieties as
among the best. If a certain variety
proves that it is among the best, rank
ing high for a series of years among
numerous other varieties, it is pretty
safe to state that such a variety is
good for that section.
Again, if a variety is tested at a
Time for Seeding Oats and Wheat
in the Cotton Belt
ONE of the chief reasons for the low
average yields of oats in the South
is late seeding. 'Oats sowed after
-November and especially those sow
ed after Christmas yield from one
half to three-fourths those sowed be
tween September 1 and October 15,
In exceptional seasons some spring
sowed oats may yield more than
some fall-sowed oats, but it is doubt
ful if the average yield for the whole
South is ever greater from spring
than fall-sowed oats. In tests ex
tending over,17 years at the Alabama
Does It Pay to Grow Oats and
Wheat?
A READER wants to know if it
"pays to grow oats and wheat in
the South ?" Another says, "It does
not pay to grow corn."
It may be well to show the average
yields of oats, wheat and corn in the
cotton-growing states during the last
ten years and then discuss this prob
lem: Does it pay to grow oats and
wheat?
AVERAGE YIELDS AND FARM VALUES PER
ACRE DEC. 1. OF OATS, WHEAT AND CORN, IN
THE STATES NAMED:
probably pays to grow oats and
wheat when they are grown as a part
of a rotation which aims at keeping
the land covered with some growing
crop as nearly all the time as is prac
ticable in the system of farming fol
lowed. - If, however, oats and wheat are
grown and the land allowed to lie
idle or bare from the time these
crops are harvested until the follow
ing spring, it is pretty certain that
oats and wheat will not prove profit
able crops. If red clover or lespe
deza is sowed with the oats and
wheat, or if the oat and wheat stubble
lands are planted in soy beans, cow- ,
peas or some other crop, so as to
utilize the long growing season after
the oats and wheat are harvested,
these fall-sowed crops will prove
profitable. In fact, we think the oat
crop should be largely increased and
the wheat crop increased to the ex
tent that soil and climatic conditions
favor. The same may be said of
corn. The average yields do not pay,
but if grown with legumes in a rota
tion and larger yields are produced
it does pay to grow corn. If corn
alone is grown, an average yield
made, only the grain saved and the
stalks burned, or if the land is al
lowed to wash and leach from the
time the corn matures until the next
spring, it does not pay to grow corny
number of stations and ranks high Experiment Station fall-sowed oats
- - - . i . 1 J...II. s
at several ofThem. thrmitrh a neriod vieiaea more man aouDie spring-
sowed oats, uniy one year am me
spring-sowed oats yield more, and in
that case the fall-sowed oats winter
killed badly. The seeding of the fall
oats was, as it appears to us, rather
late for the best results, but still the
oi years, it is pretty safe to state
that such a variety is good for gen
eral use.
Since rust is one of the greatest
enemies of wheat in the South and
' "T Oats Wheat . Com
Bua. Valuel Bus. Value Bus. Value
per per I per perf per per
Aero Acre Acre j Acre j Acra Acre
Virginia ..'.'..120.7 $11.25 12.6 l$13.37 25.1 $18.!
North Carolina 47.9 11.89 10.5 12.04 18. 18.20
SoutU Carolina 20.4 14.60 10.4 14.51 17.0 16.42
Georgia 19.4 14.08 10.T 14.01 14.4 12.54
Florida 16.3 12.27 ..... 18.6 11.60
Alabama 18.9 18.27 11.2 14.12 16.1 18.67
Mississippi ... 18.9 1157 13.6 14.84 17.8 13.58
Tennessee .... 21.6 11.10 11.1 12.18 25.0 13.95
Louisiana .... 20.7 13.01 20.3 16.05
Arkansas .... 23.0 1127 11.2 11.21 19.8 14.44
Oklahoma .... 22.5 8.84 12.1 10.59 17.4 8.34
Texas 28.8 14.501 12.4 I 13.851 19.9 13.76
PASTURE PROBLEMS
Starting Permanent Pastures
Mow the Weeds
The relatively lower yields of. oats,
except in Texas, are no doubt due to
the facts: 1. That oats require earlier
IF PERMANENT pastures or pas
tures to be used next year are to
be made this fall it is none too soon
to be planning for putting them out.
With the exception of Bermuda grass
and lespedeza, practically alt our
commonly used pasture plants do bet
ter sowed in the fall, and this is es
pecially necessary if the pasture is to
furnish much grazing the next season.
If the pastures were not benefited
this year by keeping the weeds down
it would still pay to mow them when
ever that can be done as a means of
preventing the distribution of weed
varieties thatmatnrA arlv fiifnr the.
weather becomes too warm, are more yield was double, on the average, the fall seeding than wheat, and as there
likely to escape damage by rust, then spring-sowed. are , difficulties in the way of this
earliness is a most important quality When oats are sowed early' in the early seeding the crop is not sowed
for a variety of wheat for Southern fall there is danger of too large at as favorable a time for large yields
growth and the formation of stems, as arc wneai anu toru, iuc i.uu seeds. - Uur pastures have been a
in which condition oats are readily lands are selected for wheat because fruitful means of producing weed
killed by frost. But the danger from it is generally recognized that wheat seejs to scatter over the'balance of
this is slight, even with the earliest requires a richer soil than oats. Corn, the farm somc day wc wui appre
oats, and may be entirely avoided by being planted in the spring,- is put .ciate tne damage done by weeds and.
pasturing. It would even pay to cut on the river and creek bottom lands then the pastures will be giverfmore
them back by runnings mower over which are more moist and also richer, attention,
them rather than take the smaller At the usual prices there is no
yields which, almost invariably follow great difference in the value of these Better results will usually be ob
late seeding. . crops per acre as a general rule, tained by dividing the pasture into
Dividing the Cotton Belt Into three When a state made an unusually high two fields, but it is a mistake to graze
nart. we surest that oats should be vield of any crop as of corn in Vir- one too closely while the plants in
ginia or oais in ica mis yciiiiv.uii wc uum ic g1""1' iu 6
crop gave the highest value per acre. Moderately close pasturing is best,
Of these 12 states, three, Georgia, after ihe plants have become well cs-
Florida and Texas,, obtained the tablished or a sod covers the ground,
greatest average value from oats; because the plants are richer in pro-
three others, Alabama, Mississippi tein while young and arc relished bet
and Oklahoma, obtained the largest ter Dy tne livestock, ine omy umc,
value per acre from wheat, and the that it pays to allow the plants in the,
use,
As a rule, Southern farmers object
to bearded varieties of wheat, but
there is little to justify such an ob
jection. Judged by the above stand
ard, the following have proved them
selves among the best varieties of
wheat for the Cotton Belt:
Blue stem or Pnrple Straw"' (Beardless).
"eel Man (Beardless).
v0lucn halt (Beardless).
H ts Practically Beardless). ;
I' ulcaater (Bearded).
IU'4 Wonder (Bearded). .
Klondyke (Beardless).
sowed
In tne northern third, from Sep
tember 1 to October 1.
. 4 e . e - c
a lt t ;M in the middle tnira, irom ocp
1 E lan? ? 80 Por that a fcrtil" tember 15 to October 15.
In the southern third, from Octo
ber 1 to' November 1.
In all of these zones we regard the other six states, Virginia, North Car
first half of the period stated as bet- olina, South Carolina, .Tennessee,
ter than the second half. Louisiana, and Arkansas obtained the
Slinff Wheats Our observation greatest value per acre from corn.
at the tW a? ,:ti t that the same results hold Considering the average values ob-
no doubt make better growth. There- true as "regards early seeded wheat, tained per acre from these crops as
Fertilizing Oats and Wheat
lzr containing nitrogen is neces-
?ai7 m the fall, at the time of seed
lnS, we believe it a mistake to sow
such land to oats 'or wheat in the
- hope of making a paying yield of
grain.
If nitrogen is used in the fertilizer
oasture to get moderately large is in:
the fall for the purpose of furnishing
late grazing after frost --With two
pastures, one should be allowed to
make a fair growth before frost for,
use later in the season, . .
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