Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1839-07-10

not expect; but the principles laid down
are Of importance, and should be under
stood by farmers. That the wheat plant
would be benefited by hoeing or stirring
the earth, cannot be well doubted, though |
such process is obviously impracticable !
on broadcast sown wheat. Experience
has proved that in increasing the quality
and Quantity OF the crop, the effect of hoe
ing on wheat, is equal to that on other
plants, some Ct the roots, perhaps, except
ed
1t has within few years been discov-
cred that wheat has two set of roots the
lower called the radicle or terminal, and
the upper, termed the coronal ones. The
lower descend into the earth, and in suita-
bic soils are of great length, having been
traced downwards to the length of six or
seven feet the upper roots range near
the surface, and on the perfection of these
much of the value of the wheat is depend
ing. To have both sets perform their Of
fees properly, the seed must be deposited
in the earth to suitable depth; not too
low, as if it does the wheat plant is apt to
perish, or the coronal roots put out too far
from the surface; nor too shallow, as that
would render the plant liable to suffer
from surface drought. and besides, by
forcing the two set of roots too near
each other, compounds their functions.
and in manner prevents the full exercise
of either.
Col. LIE Contour sows his wheat in
drills, at the depth of three inches, which
from great variety of experiments he
has found to be the depth best adapted 10
the plant. At this depth the grain usual
ly appears above the ground in ordinary
favorable circumstances, in nineteen days.
1t will be remembered that the sowing of
wheat is not usually performed in Eng
land as early as with US. Wheat is pUt
| into The ground from October till Janua-
ry, and some Of the specimens commented
uponsby LIE G. were sown in the latter
month"; this will III part account for the
longer period employed in terminating
there than here. In a plant sown in Jan
uary, in April or 90 days from sowing,
the plant still depended on its terminal
roots for support though ring OF knobs
on the stem below the surface indicated
the place of the coronal roots. In Nav.
or lO2 days from the time Of sowing, the
coronal roots had protruded laterally about
quarter of an inch. At the end of ia
days these roots are greatly developed,
and as these spread, the stem that connects
the two series of roots dwindles, until the
principal support of the plant, it is evident,
proceeds from the upper roots. The proper
time OF hoeing the plants is when these
roots begin to take their part in the sup
port OF the plant, and then the moving the
earth, and subjecting it to atmospheric in
fiuences produces the best effects.
Col. LIE Contour calculates that the
gain in quantity per acre from hoeinp is
from four to six bushels, and as a man
will hoe half an acre day there is gain
in the crop, as well as freeing the sol
from weeds. AS necessary result of the
hoeing system, Col. LIE G. disapprove:
the sowing grass seeds with the wheat
or IN the spring on fall sown grain. The
young grass plants. he says, with thei
million mouths in both roots and leaves
must absorb most of the nutriment in botf
air and soil that should be given to tn,
wheat plant, and they are the most activ,
IN this, at the moment the wheat bv tn,
aid Of It's coronal roots is the mos: assidu
ously seeking for food. In one case. il
f which the grass seeds were sown in tn
spring on part ofthe crop the wheat yield
I ed only 20 bushels per acre, while on tn,
other part hoed, and the seeds sown $,
. late as not to impede the coronaI roots
} the produce was 35 bushels. 1t appear
PLAIN to US that we in general do not pa,
sufficient attention to Putting our wbea
into the ground. If we plough it in, !;
common plough is used making lare,
burrows, and covering much of the seet
so deep that il never vegetables: and
/ narrowed in as is the usual method n,
) operation is SO specifically performe,
/ that the seed when it vegetables, has n,
r room for proper coronal roots and in dr.
season must much of it perish. That thi
5 was the case with the sowing of 1888 j,
Western New York every one is aware
: Ii we cannot drill and hoe our wheat. w
can at least endeavor to put it in SO tina
: the plants shall all have REASONABLE
/ chance OF success; and we can, bv suffi
3 Gent care and attention keep our .whea
5 fields so clean, that not more than ON
halt OF the nutrimeut they afford shall O.
i to the production of weeds, or ipiurion
!. grasses.-Genesee Farmer.
I