WHEAT IN THE UNITED STATES 237 



generally from 20 to 25 per cent higher than in 

 Nebraska or Kansas. This difference in price is 

 not due to a difference in quality, but to the facts 

 that markets are nearer and that there is a shortage 

 in local supply, and it must be borne in mind that 

 the cost of production is also higher in this region. 

 This higher production cost is caused by the care- 

 ful methods of tillage and use of commercial ferti- 

 lizers. 



The Southeast Wheat Region of the United 

 States. - - All the states south of the Potomac and 

 Ohio and east of the Mississippi are grouped to- 

 gether in this region. Notwithstanding the fact 

 that there are within this region strong differences 

 in soil and topography, there is a general similarity 

 in climate and in the kinds of wheat raised. Win- 

 ters are mild, and summers are not excessively 

 hot. The rainfall is heavy, averaging from 40 

 to 60 inches per year, and the humidity is high. 



The soils vary from sandy to very heavy clay, 

 and they are generally lacking in some of the 

 constituents necessary for wheat. Commercial 

 fertilizers are therefore used in every state. In 

 some places they are used in large quantities. The 

 cost of these commercial fertilizers averages from 

 one to three dollars per acre. 



The Methods of Cultivation. - - Winter wheats 

 are grown exclusively, and of these all the varieties 

 raised are either of the soft or semi-hard types. 



