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Tuesday, July 16, 2024

Wilkes County Farmers Increasing Corn Yields, by A.G. Hendren, July 16, 1924

1911 Average Yield of Corn Per Acre Was 13 Bushels in Wilkes

By A.G. Hendren, County Agent

In 1911 the average yield of corn in Wilkes County was 13 bushels per acre; in 1923 it was 20 bushes, which is an increase of seven bushels per acre in 12 years.

The natural tendency of the virgin soil is to get poorer but owing to three causes—the improvement of soil, the selection of seed and better cultivation—the increase is a fourth more. This increase has averaged about ½ bushel per acre for the 12 years just past.

It is estimated by the best authorities that it will take 30 bushels per acre to supply our needs and at the present increase it will take 20 years to accomplish this. We can’t afford to be that long at this job, but if we try, we can increase the yield one bushel per year and do the job in 10 years.

It has been demonstrated that land making 20 bushels per acre by the use of lime and clover for two years has made 50 bushels per acre.

Now is the time, during July, for you to make an estimate of how much lime you need and make an order with your lime dealer not later than September 1st and have it on your farm by October 1st, ready to use under wheat.

There are three big C’s we wish to stress in the improvement of soil—Corn, Clover and Cows. With these three properly handled, we’ll make our farms rich and us prosperous.

From the front page of the North Wilkesboro Hustler, July 16, 1924

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