Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1843-11-30
9t9rituUurdC.
CuLIuRE OE MHEAT.

Has not too lille seed been generally
sorn? As we have understood, from 4
10 5 and 6 pecks Of wheat are the quaint.
ties usually seeded; the two first being
the prevailing ones. Now it appears to
US, that neither Of these two first are suf-
ficient, and that the las, is Below the prop
er quantity TO be sown upon any ground IN
sufficient filth for wheat cultivation. Our
opinion is, that two bushels is about the
right quantity, because We believe tina. it
would furnish wheat plants enough to oc.
cupy the ground independent of weeds,
aud it is as certain as fate, that if the
ground be not occupied. by the first, ,ha,
the latter will uncermonously spring up
and take possession of it, rob the earth OF
it's fertility, and decrease the yield of
wheat.
Should not the wheat crop al,cays sue
coed clorer-hy or grass sward3 Th S
question we are prepared to answer afr.
mailvely. We believe that the wheat,
plants should be able to draw con,inu-
Gus supply OF nutriment both from the
earth and from the atmosphere, and that
the milder the former may be the better it
IS adapted to the elaboration OF the grain
and the perfection OF the straw; and we
believe, too, that great benefit would be
derived by sowing upon every field of
wheat, just after sowing, and before har-
rowing, about bushels Of ashes AMI of
bone dust 10 the acre, or one of plaster
and two If salt.
Should NOT fields Intended for wheat be
deeply pIougheI, and The hurop siices so
laid as 10 corer up all The vegetable maaiterl
We think they ought for the following
reasons: !. By dep p'ough'ng and Thor.
"uph authorization. a deefer pa'tursge will
he afforded to the roots, and consfqu' nj
" IN plants will have heller # ':noe
ding th"ms lvrs beyond the uph' av'ng in.
duence Of III, frost. and Of 'nh'hins m"i,-
tur" from tie earth in tunes of drought.
2. Bv hnr,ing t." cnii'e m SIS oi v ee'a
hi" m'ti'r lss opp r'un " will h" ti'r-
d.d t. The seeds nf wrcds tn veg tote,
cons M n''v ,h"r" viii b" fwrr T. ~ T.
rurt the growth of the wheat PANS: the
decomposition OF tn" vegetable matte will
he NOR" slowly carried on, and III" nutri.
ment W II he more g'a'ually imbibed by
III mou''s Of tn" pants. an thus vii -
more h al,hlul nd coninuous supply 81
| food to be provided. than it. by exposura
L. the free action of the atm sphere. de-
composiuon was s,imu'a'e into decree
Of activity exceeding the wants If plants
We know, too, thai in proportion to the
quantity of vrge,abi" mater which there
may he in the. soil 50 is its capaci'v Coz
abs ring those gases from The 'tmos.
phe,e. which are essential 10 the ero~th
Of plants snd to the maturing of theil
seeds
!ShouH not oil lands appropriated to The
culture of rteai be lined? There can be
NJ question thrt they should be; md in
addition To lime, every time whea. may
he sown, at leas, five bushels of ash
and ore Of bone dust, should also be sowr
IN reon, as potash and the phosph to 81
lime is indispensable 10 the formation o
the straw, md grain. lfhowever there
he plenty of vegetable matter in tho soil
the lime. through is chemical agency
viii supply the potash.
We have felt it to be our duty to throw
ont these crude hints, and sincerely trus
that the suhiec, will attract the attention
Of some our intelligent practical farmers
whose views would be we'll received by
our readers, and doubtless throw grea
light upon the subject