Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 127, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 June 1917 — MORE MONEY FROM WHEAT [ARTICLE]

MORE MONEY FROM WHEAT

Wartime Prices Mean Big Top-Dress-Ing Profits. Wheat has brought wartime prlcef for the past two years. Most of the 1916 wheat crop was sold for ovet twice as much per bushel as was obtained by farmers a few years ago Every extra bushel counted double lasi year. The world must be fed, and the continued demand upon the Amerlcar producers must mean high prices sot 1917 wheat Early reports show that the condl tion of the winter wheat planted foi 1917 was from 15 to 20 per cent below normal, and that the crop went Intc the winter in bad condition. The outlook for big yields is not glowing. Crof experts assert that the 1917 wheal crop Ip bound to bring excellent prices You cannot Increase your 1917 winter wheat acreage now, but you car Increase your yield from 15 to 5C per cent by spending a little mort money on each acre. Extra bushels mean extra dollars. Labor costs and other overhead charges per bushel are kept down, and net profits shoved up when greater yields per acre are obtained. This year of all years, spending a little more money than usual on the wheat crop will pay big returns. Less than two bushels of tfheat at present prices will pay for actual money outlay per acre for top-dress-ing; five to ten more bushels per acre from top-dressing with fertilizers Is not unusual. Figure your acreage, estimates for yourself next fall prices, and weigh the subject of top-dressing on Its merits as an Investment that will bring large returns. _____ Plantfood Makes Crops. The tiny wheat plant must have special nourishment as soon as It wakes up.in the spring, which Is before much of the plantfood In the soil becomes available. Big crops demand enormous quantities of plantfood. The biggest help you can give your wheat crop this spring Is to apply a top-dressing of 100 to 800 pounds per acre of fertilizer, analyzing 2 to 4 per cent of ammonia, 8 to 12 per cent phosphoric acid in an available form. The fertilizer should be broadcasted or distributed on the wheat through the fertilizer attachment of the wheat drill, with the lime spreader, or other fertilizer distributor. If the wheat drill Is used, leave the disks suspended so that they will not cut the wheat plants. Apply this fertilizer before the field is rolled or harrowed. Harrowing will work it into the soil where the roots can get the plantfood. You can carry on these operations until the wheat is up four inches in height without Injury to the crop. Top-dress, grow mor* bushel* per acr© and Increase your bank account.

TOP DRESSING It to possible, by POSSIBILITIES, top dressing to bring back every run-down meadow and rough hillside In the country, and this without one dollar labor expense except that of spreading the fertilizer. Results obtained at the Rothamsted station can be duplicated in this country and are being duplicated in increasing measure.