The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1843-11-03
RURAL ECO.v'G.N y.
From the american Farmer.
SEEDING OF WHEAT.

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SEEDING OF WHEAT.
The particular object we have in view
II writing this article is 10 cali the alten-
ton Of trheat growers 10 a few subjects
we consider Of vital importance 10 their
success in the growth Of the crop.
The first in order is the time of soring
In speaking upon this point we feel a
delicacy arising from our respect for the
opinions of others. and did we not consider
il our duty 10 advocate what we consider
truth, we should feel still more embarrass
nent IN speaking on the subject than we
do. To prevent the rayages Of the fall al.
tack Of the Hessian fly, farmers have, in
our opinion, got INTO the habit Of seeding
their wheat entirely loo late, as in their de-
sire to avoid the fall attack Of this baneful
insect, they deny the wheat plant sufficient
time TO entrench itself with roots, TO with.
stand the effects of the ihawings and freez'
ings of winter and early spring. If our
winters were as they we're many years ago,
something like an approach to eyenness Of
Temperature, there would be policy in such
late sowing, as to certainty the grain
would be protected from the autumnal war.
ring Of the fly, aud no disadvantage would
result from the alterations of seasons Of
which we have before spoken; but, as from
the precarious nature of our winters and
springs, there is no making any caleula.
ton upon their character or stability, we
do think that the safe plan will be found
in sowing early, and hazarding the fall Wis,
itation OF the fly, as in so doing we conceive
there would be found less peril than in
trusting crop Of y-rooted wheat plants
TO the mercy of our ever varying and
changing temperature of the seasons. 1t
has been stated upon credtable authority,
that if the wheat. grower use due vigilance
and watch bis wheat plants in the fall, so as
TO detect the fly when it is in the pupa or
worm state, that by rolling his wheat field
he uay destroy the insect, and thus not
only protect his crop from the fall attack
but lessen the number Of The insects the
ensuing spring, and thus relieve his field
from serious injury from their second ap.
pearance. We incline 10 the opinion that
this remedy is practicable. 1t certainly
has common sense to recommend it, as CIV
cry one must know that the pressure of
some hundreds Of pounds, which The roller
weighs, passing over the fly while in the
pupd state, must necessarily grind it into
atoms, and thus cut of all subsequent chan
ces from indulgence in the soft balances Of
love, or OF depositing its eggs with view
to the perpetuaton Of its kind. If then we
can get rid of this enemy BY watchfulness
and the application of the roller, why need
any dread be entertained of early sowing
We know tina. there is a great apprehend
ed danger from early sowing, Of the wheat
being lodged; but ihia we think may be OBJ
waited, if there is sufficient potash in the soil
to dissolve the saG,l so as to form the sill.
cate Of potash, that substance which gives
strength and elasticity to the stem Of the
plant. Potash exists originally in I'LL clays;
but if by long culture the soil may have be.
come exhausted Of 1t, il may be supplied
BY applications of ashes, lime, mari, or viz.
gin clay, so that, without naming any other,
here are four resources at hand and TO
those who reside on our salt water rivers,
where the sea weeds wash up, We will state,
that in that weed potash abounds.
In The event Of an attack OF the Heseian
fly, aud the application of the roller, we
have no doubt the crop would derive solid
benefit from the consolidation of the soil,
and the increased disposition and ability il
would impart TO the plants and 10 the tller
But should early sowing conduce to rank
ness, il would be an easy matter TO feed the
wheat plants down BY turning in flock of
sheep in dry heather in early spring. But
we must be candid; we confess, notwlth
standing existing opinions, that We should
have no dread upon the subjec, if we were
satisfied that there was potash enough IN
our soil; but on the contrary should lock
forward to something like certainty, that
early sowing would push on the ripenlng of
our grain, in summer, sufficient number
of days 10 enable it to escape injury from
the rust, on enemy equally formidable as
the fly.
With but one single exception, all the
wheat we have examined this season has
favored tho belief that early sowing is the
best. THIS brings US to the time of SOW.
ing. We would always endeasor to make
ourarrangements to commerce. by the 18th