Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 8, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 January 1918 — IMPROVING THE 1918 WHEAT CROP [ARTICLE]

IMPROVING THE 1918 WHEAT CROP

Top Dress With Manure and Fertilizer and Increase the YieldThe bureau of crop estimates of the United States department of agriculture reports an Increase of four pel cent in the acreage of fall-sown wheat, as compared with that sown In the fall of 1916. This would be highly epcouraglng, were it not for the, fact that much of this is In poor condition, is in fact ten per cent under the average condition of the last ten years. Unless the coming spring Is remarkably favorable for the development of winter wheat, the 1918 crAp will be even smaller than that of 1917.

We have but one more chance for Increasing our 1918 bread-grain crop, and this Is by top-dressing either with fertilizer or with manure. In the latter case the work may be done at once, the manure being spread thinly and •evenly, preferably with the manure spreader. Manure so used protects the wheat from winter Injury, and. at the same time- stimulates growth In the cold weather of early spring. Every <jay gained at this season Is just so much crop Insurance. When fertilizer Is used It must be applied just as growth starts in the early spring. It is then that available plant food Is most needed, .and when it is most efficient In causing the plant to “tiller out” and increase the number of seed-bearing stems. Fertilizer .used at this time may change crop failure to crop success, and is certain to give results when the wheat was sown late, or when It was sown with an Insufficient supply of plant food.