Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1840-10-29
miscellaneous.
From the C,Itirat0r.
WHEAT CULTURE.


the crop. par excellence, is unquesiunabiy
wheat, Its intrinsic value as an article oI
food, its importance as au item Of expnr',
its influence on trade, aud lis vas: sway III
regulating the exchanges and commerce OF
the world renders il every where a crop
of the greatest consequence, and particu-
larly so in this country, To raise gon'i
wheat many things must be KEEP, in view;
the nature and texture ofile soil-il, quail
ity. so far as richness or poverty is con-
cerned-ihe kind Of wheat most suitable
for cultivation under the circumstances OF
the case-lhe cleanliness and preparation
of The Seed-the time aud method of SOW
ing--and in short all the things that go 10
ameliorate The soil and secure crop,
must be attended to, rendering the grow
ing Of wheat one oflhe most arluous as
we'll as profitable occupations Of the far
mer.
A good wheat soil always contains con.
siderable clay, but it is so balanced and
corrected by other ingredients as never 10
be cold and sour; if such is the character
Of any soil, good wheat need not be ex-
pccted. Freedom from superluous mois-
,ure or staenaut waller, is all indispensable
condition Of a good wheat soil; aud when
such exemption does not naturally exist,
it mus, be produced by draining. A moist
cool climate is found nor to be unfavorabe
to wheat, ii'the roots are preserved from
slagnant water. and are allowed 10 range
in previous soil; but in any climate wheat
will fail where the soil is saturated with
water that does not circulate. To give
the requisite dryness and depth where they
do not exist, draining and deep blowing
may be relied upon and where these go
together, with proper manuring a soil can
scarcely fail 10 improve, or to 10 produc-
tive.
Deep plowing, on most lands as they
naturally are, and on all lands as they
should he made. is essential 10 good wheat
crops. The roots of this plant penetrate
in 2ermeable soil to great depth, aud
spread to considerable distance. The
single fact of its being provided with two
sells olroois, one of which spreads near the
surface, and the other strikes deeply, is a
sufficient proofo The necessity which ex-
lists for deep plowns lis culture. In a few
instances suhsols may he found which
will not admit of deep plowiug, being com
posed Of materials injurious 10 The wheat
crop; but great crops Of wheat are not to
be expected on such soils.
The application Of manures is a very
essential point in growing the wheat crop.
Land can be too rich, as we'll as too poor
for wheat, or rather The manure in The soil
may he in that condition which render it
unsuitable for wheat. There are some
crops on which fresh or unfermented ma
nure exercises good effect, aud to which
it can scarcely be applied in too large
quantities, corn for instance; while on the
others they produce results of the most un-
favorable kind. Nearly all the cerealia
are injured by fresh manures. the stalk
growing too vigorous, while tho berry is
usually imperfect. Compost manure, or
such as are made by layers of turf. stable
manure, vegetable mould, lime, &c. in
which he decomposition is already effected
can scarcely be applied TOO abundantly 10
land otherwise we'll constituted. The
great crops obtained around did barns, Or
other decayed On removed buildings. is
proof that large quantities Of decomposcd
manure may safely he used. while a much
less quantity of fresh or undecomposcd
would be fatal. One of the greatest evils
of direct mauurins for the wheat crop ari-
ses from the liability of grain so manured
TO lodge. The rapid growth of the stem
renders it unahlr to support its own weight
it is soft and flexible. contains much less
slick than those grown in poorer soil; the
wheat does moi usually perfect its berry,
and al all times from the thinness and
weakness ofits skin or cuticle, is more liza
bile to mi:dew or rust. These things rem
der it certainly unadvisAble, unless the
laud is very poor and reduced, to apply
unfermer'ed manure to wheat.
Tue 10, ulioi of crops, has furnished The
means Of applying !.esh manure advanta-
geously to crops. and at the same time re-
tanning its principal value for wheat The
cultivation ol corn or roots in alienation
with grain crops. clover, DC, gives the
farmer the meaus Of greatly increasing his
crops, and at the same time con,ia"lI y itn
proving his soil i; may he considered as
a settled maxim in agriculture, that land
improves little or hone while nothing is
growing upon ii. Ii is the general ac
acknowledgement Of this truth. that has sub
slituted hoed Or green crops for naked fall
lows, in the preparation OF lands for wheat.
Peas and clover are among the hes! green
crops 10 precedc wheat, aud the latter NAV
bc considered inseparuble from the sue
cessfu culture of this grain. Corn would
be one oflhe very best crops 10 precede
wheat, could it in all cases he removed
from the land in season to get in the whea,
properly. The thorough maturing and
tillins required for corn, puts The ground in
good condition for wheat; aud should ex-
perience prove that rery late sown wheat
is more safe from danger in winter, and
more productive than that sown a liule
earlier, result said 10 be established in