Richmond Indiana palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1837-1839, 1838-09-22
AGRICULTURAL.
From the Farmer and Garinsr.
CULTURE OF WHEAT.

CULTURE OF WHEAT.
As the period has arrived when the farme
should be directing his attention towards tho pre-
paration Of his ground for his crop Of fall wheat
and as this grain of the great staples Of OIL
country, we have thought il might be serviceable
to lay down some general rules for its culture. and
to make such suggestions IS nigh, appear TO be
called Tor ny the occasion.
SOIL AND PROPER aANUREs
i The soil best adapted to the growth of whea,
has been proved by experience to the ciays, (thc
red the best,) or loan mixed with clay; good
wheat. however. may be grown on sandy land
aided by ley of clover turned under. But wheth-
er the soil be either the the other, it is alb
soluteiy necessary that portion of lime, in some
of Its forms, be present on the earth to ensure
good crop: essential is this mineral. and SO
powerful its effects, that from two to three per
cent. has been found sufficient. When
that lime is absolutely necessary, we do not pre-
tend 10 affirm. that wheat cannot be grown upon
soil where it does not exist; but we do aver, that
| in cannot advantageousiv be cultivated without
it, and this will appear the more reasonable whan
the fact is considered. that both the kernel and
straw contain lime in their composition, the which
must be taken up from the earth in the food of
the plants while growing.
The proper manures for wheat land, is a subject
Of deep Importance. and before designate The
proper kind, we will remark general rules-l.
That long. unfermcn.ed manures never should
be Immediately applied to the wheat crop: 2.
That whater er manure may be applied, lime, III
some of its combinations and forms should COM
prise part Of it, unless the land on which the
wheat is to be grown possesses the mineral natur-
ay, or may have been previously lined If il
be no convenient to apply full dressing to the
land. very small modicum for all present pur-
poses will answer-say from three 10 four bushels
TO the acre of fine lime. sown by hand the sur
face of the ground after the wheat is in, will |
do. |
Soaper's ashes, whether Of the black or barilla I
kind, perhaps, the best manure OF all 9TH
ers to dress wheat land with. From 100 to 200 (
bushels to the is the proper quantity; the t
former kind is, doubtless, the most prompt and eff
cent in giving character and quantity the first /
succeeding crop.
Mari, whether clay or shell, is most excellent
manure, and when applied judiciousIy, g. in proper
er previous to being plougbed in. From
Twelve cart loads to the is sufficient for first
lressing.
Crushed bone or bone dust, in the proportion Of
rom IS to so bushels to the acre, exert n most
,calthv action in the growth Of wheat, besides
ca wing behind j. an effect, which will last for
-ears.
Slaughter house refuse, as blood and ohlls # s
II kinds, have been found eminently suited 10 the
ATTITUDES Of wheat.
THOROUGHLY rot,ed barn yard or other vegetable
r animal manure in proportion Of from Is to 20 ,
ouble cart loads to the acre never fail to ensure
good CROP; but if lime be absent from the soil, {
t. or some other cucareous substance, must be
upped, and may be put IN as we have before
remsed
Warsa mud mixed, in the proportion of 90 cart ;
Dads. with 50 bushels Of lime the acre, and !,
ermi,ted to decompose in the heap, forms an ex- ,
client compost for wheat grounds. 8
Burnt clay il another resource, which Will De @
,und on trial to be good top dressing, IN the :
Of from 200 to 5000 busheia to the y
ere. 8
salt in the proportion of Is bushels to the a !,
re will not fail to secure good crop and leave ,
he ground in good filth. 9
Plaster of Paris, in the proportion OF bush i
Is to the acre, applied when the wheat first comes
p pushes forward the grain IN the fall. ehcour- :
ges the growth Of white clover, and rcPresses
hat of weeds.
PREPARATION OF THE SOIL
If the field to be cultivated in wheat be cioreT-
ey or grass sward plough it at least seven inches
ee, IF il be a tenacious clay, let the furrow- r
lice be so cut as meet at the shoulders, so that
here NAV be left drain to carry of any super {;
nous water lit be loan, let the furrow-sIce v
urned over SO to lay fat, as that position Is Il
he best to encourage and carry On the decomPo- r
;tion of the vegetable matters turned Inv az also
o prevent the dragging up of the sods in the at
erwork Of preparation. j
The field being thus ploughcd, if you have time |
e, YOUR rollers to work, and go thoroughly over '
he field: when this is done, pass your harrows I
veil over it, then sow your seed. and plough II IN
With the seed plough. about inches deep. !
lf the soil be stiff tenacious clay, subject to j
akinq and spewing up the grain, It will be best i
O leave your field in this condition until spring. ]
yhen it should be narrowed crossuise, and rolled
fter sowing your clover or other grass-seed Oh
he ground Just after being newly narrowed. q
If the soil be loan, after ploughlng IN your |
eed. harrow and then roll it. We make this dis
motion between ground subjec. TO baking, and
pam. which is not, because the latter VIII DC IN
condition in the spring following for the opera
ION of the harrow, whereas the former VIII ne
ound not quite in congenial a state tor sucn
work.
II farmers were generally 70 adopt the Prac-
ice Of narrowing and rolling their grain fields as
ariv in the spring as the ground Is snfr'cienav
rv to allow it without poaching, the very best
fleets would flow from il. Whiie the narrowing
would serve as 4 aroraing or cnstrGito1 tn the
,ounr plants, and thus push forward their growth,
he double operation of narrowing and rolling ;
would bury and thus save, many stools oil wheat
which might have been spewed up, or thrown out
~ the fros, which otherwise would have been
rs. by the exposure Of their roots uPca the sur
ace of the ground Il
w. h,ya said that rneet grounds should. where