Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1845-10-09
ON RAISING WINTER WHEAT.

ON RAISING WINTER WHEAT.
A few remarks in relation to this valuable branch
Of agriculture may not be amiss at this time
In the month Of August, 1874, powed piece
of moving land (which had lain in the sod twenty
years or more,) for the purpose OF planting an or
chard l did so in November. caused 1t to be
plowed deep-"to the BEAM" About the middle
of September, | sowed on the furrow, "Wmto
Flint Wheat three bushels. should recomm end
two bushels TO the acre.
There were two distinct solls-one part having
been enriched by the road wash, which produced a
heavy crop; and the other had the benefit OF cola
pasture wash, with no fertilizng properties Iohe
of the cold water errors Of the past On ihe pest
soil, the wheat was ready for harvest on the io,n
July, the berry being full, and straw bright, WINE
on the poorer soil il SDrg Killed in part, and rust
caused damace and blight, it being backward, or
two weeks later.
NV neipbbor took six quarts of the same seed,
and sowe5 il on tight soil on the Morrimack. In
the autumn it gave good promise, out II ana not
survive The hard weather of March and April
This result shows the necessity of n rich SOIL and
the richer the better adding lime,
NY success was far beyond my expectations, not
having MANFRED farther than TO add six casks Of
Stacked lime.
My next experiment (this uutumn) on the same
land will be
LIST. To pillow deep--to the beam.
Cd. Add l6 to 30 casks Stacked lime mixed with
manure and muck-say or 10 casks to the acre.
Spread it on the furrow
Sd. Sow on The GurolC, and cultivate in with the
dressing, or harrow with heavy harrow crcsswse
the burrows that the seed may be deeply imbedded,
giving the roots chance to Withstand the aern-
ate thawing and freezing Of March and April,
which "winter kills" or more properly spring kills.
4th. Roll-which give coTpactness, and operates
against drought, except on clayey soils i even
rolled my sod wheat.
9TH. Mosten the seed, and add some lime or
oh hot q, Sol nhO thO
of September
The enemies of wheat are rust, weev and smut
The rust commencing in g-dOys, the weevil about
the middle of July. Smut may be avoided by lin
ing the seed. The weevil fly deposits the egg
while the grain is in It's incipient state, when the
hull is open and in blossom. The maggot then
commences eating, while it is in milk. They can
do no harm when the hull has closed
In this State the attack of rust is almost sure
with spring wheat, but we hear nothing of the vice.
vii. In Maine, with their thousands of acres Of
wheat now in apparent luxuriance, the weevls are
masters Of the fields. With these facts and dis
couragements in our way, why should we not try
to steal the march of our enemies that our reapng
time may come at least three or four weeks earlier
in the season.?
TO illustrate the utility of fall blowing, shall
take the liberty to refer to Mr. Gechell, of Water
vile, who showed me field OF winter wheat in
full perfection, with the exception as he said that
from rather shallow blowing and narrowing it did
not catch WELL and it also spring killed in part,
while his spring wheat was thoroughly infested by
the weevil, and probably total loss-thc two pie |
ces adjoining
Maine has lime soil, but a good application of
Stacked lime will be found of great value in their
wheat culture In Maine, | should recommend
sowing wheat from the first to the 9th of Sept. a |
good start In the fall is important.
Massachusetts has but little lime in her soil,
hence the necessity of adding thereto.
My great success almost uneXampled herea-
set thought it a wild experiment to attempt TO
grow wheat; now have great faith that every
farmer owning two acres Of good, rich soil, will
find his flour bills less expensive if he will adopt
the prescribed mode Of growing winter wheat.
Very respectfully, HENRY PooR.
North Andover, Aug. 90, 16l5.-N. Z. Farmer.