The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1842-09-03

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The fly having totally cut off the wheat,
put the farmers on many schemes TO meet
this ruinous enemy. Among the expert
ments tried. nanuring high just at seed
time, and sowing late, was much depended
on. But disappointment frequently followed
| from mildew or rust. As the wheat was
often sown late in October it ougb, to have
had three bushels Of seed 10 the acre, in
stead Of three pecks, or one bushel, the
usual quantity then sown. Being sown so
late the plants had no time TO ,iler, or null
| tiply and strengthen their roots and stalks;
of course the winter weakened and ,hiuned
| the plants, which made the wheat still later
in the season; and when highly manured
| the straw was full OF leaves, very succnlent
usually midewed, and almost certainly
rusted--of course. crop of small value.
At this Difficult! time of obtaining a small
lot of wheat, one of your committee in a
conversation with an Englishman who then
was a very successful raiser of wheat on
PENIS Manor, fully stated the difficulties
as above narrated. He considerably replied,
that there appeared TO be two prominent
errors in the then prac.ice-,he manuring
so late, and sowing SO little seed.
Ques. What injury by late manuring!
Ans. Apt TO make the straw very sue
culent and full OF leaves.
Ques. What quani.y Of seed ought to be
sown!
Ans. Increase the quantity till il fully
occupies the ground, making the straw
| fine and bu! few leaves.
This short history Of the difficulties and
| L. - L. La -
whea. Immediately after the fly came, your
committee though. might be Of use in fur!h.
er examining the subject. 1t shows the
progress we have made al the present time
in better cultivation, earlier manuring, ear
lier sowing, and doubling the quantity OF
seed sown.
First Means.-The means Of prevention
first good dry, loamy soil, well pte-
pared by cultivation, not too recently man.
ured, that by cultivation there may be a
good assimilation of manure to soil, the
more complete the better. Cover the seed
about two inches deep, either with drill or
plow, that it may have good hold of the
soil, and not be thrown out by winter
frosts.
Second Means.-Quan,ity Of seed sown
must depend on the judgment of the far
mer. The strength of the soil, the size of
grains, &c. must be taken into considera.
tion. The grains of some wheat are al.
most as long again as some others, land somo
kinds tiller more than others; at any rate
let the ground be fully occupied that no
weeds or trash occupy the ground and fill
Places wncffw WIFI whltfttween W en-. Ibe Mest, Or thin
and of course, rust. Such thin places, by
unequal sowing, we're observable in some
fields this year, by their dingy or rusty
appearance; whereas, the rest of the land
sown was bright and good.
Time of SoWing.-As early sown wheat
produces the strongest straw and fewest
leaves, and not so liable 10 be laid with wet
nor so apt to be thrown out of the ground
by winter frosts, these reasons recommend
it as preventive TO rust.
At what pariiclar time wheat ought 10 be
sown to escape both fly and rust. is no,
easy to settle, but should the fly cease its
depredations, early in Sept. say from the
18Th to tha goth, would be advisable, for
the various reason assigned above. The
late sown wheat sometimes succeeds under
particular cultivation and soil; still the
chances against it are as teD TO one.
Kind of Wheat. former communica.
tion your committee recommended the
Mediterranean wheat as most safe. Hither.
TO the fly has not touched. It has the same
character at the south, as we see by the
Farmers Register-being untouched there.
This is strongly in its favor. II is also less
liable 10 rust than any kind we are acquain
ted with. But Other kinds may offer, and
upon trial be found preferable to the Med
ierranean. The Godenrock now upon
trial may offer some advantages. /, has
strong. shor. slraws, no. so liable to
get down by wet as some other kinds, and
said to be excellent for Touring.
| Means Of Improuement.-We see abroad
in the lands and around us, among the
farmers, more certain means of improve
ment than any thing your committee car
offer. A spirit of enquiry; wakefv
ambition to meet the difficulties of thei
profession; desire to obtain she best seeds
to produce the best quality and creates
quantity of their various products. this, my
friends, is the surest foundation OF all per
mahent improvement. These hitherto
dorment faculties, if kept aroused and acliv,
} well produce resulss in ten years from thi
, time. that will surnise us all far iva ar,