farmers' institutes. 649 



desires to grow an abundance of good forage on a small amount of land 

 should give this valuable plant a trial. Try an acre and be convinced. 

 If properly handled it will give good returns. Some of the larger varieties 

 are best for this purpose, such as the Orange or Georgia. 



CAN FARMERS OF KOSCIUSKO COUNTY AFFORD TO GROW 

 WHEAT AT PRESENT PRICES. 



[Read before Kosciusko County Farmers' Institute.] 



This question is emphasized by entire or partial failures, by several 

 combined causes, of the wheat crop within recent years in this section of 

 the "Wheat Garden of the World" as well as by the low prices prevailing 

 then, due to the low tide of depression affecting all industries. 



More than a present mere local view of the wheat question is necessary 

 to determine whether we, not only of Kosciusko County, but of the entire 

 upper Mississippi Basin, shall continue to grow wheat as one of our main 

 crops without much regard to present prices and recent partial failures. 

 A world-wide survey of the past, present and possible future conditions 

 of the wheat problem inclines me to believe that it will be to our best 

 interests, not only to continue the growing of wheat, but to grow more, not 

 by increasing the acreage but by Increasing the yield per acre, and I 

 believe this can be best and most economically accomplished by a proper 

 rotation and a judicious selection of crops grown, and enough farm animals 

 of such kinds as will best fit the farmer's fancy and his farm, to consume 

 all crops grown except the wheat and dollar potatoes. And when King 

 Corn wilts to an insignificant crop in a drouthy fall, the queen of cereals, 

 wheat, makes a very refined and welcome substitute. 



Wheat has aptly been styled "the staff of life." The food constituents 

 of this cereal are so proportioned as to peculiarly fit it for human food, 

 especially for the brain-working classes, hence has always been the prin- 

 cipal cereal food of civilized nations; and while its culture and consump- 

 tion may not be a prime civilizing factor, yet its increased consumption 

 follows closely after other civilizing and enlightening influences, and so 

 generally is this recognized that it may be said that a country's civiliza- 

 tion is measured by the amount of wheat consumed per capita. 



The present influences by force of arms, diplomacy and missionary 

 work are rapidly changing rice eating Asiatics to more refined and civilized 

 wheat consumers. The greed of wheat eating nations for more territory 

 is rapidly introducing this cereal into every nook and corner of the world 

 where white man can exist and make money. Much of the new territory 



