Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1845-09-18

method of sowing IN shor; all ths
things that go TO ameliorate the soil and
secure a crop, must be attended to, rem
deTipg the growing Of wheat one Of the
most arduous as well as profitable occupa-
tons Of the farmer.
A good wheat soil always contains con.
sidersble clay, bat It is so balanced and
corrected by other ingredients as never to
be cold and sour; if such is the charac-
ter Of any soil, good wheat need not be
expected. Freedom from superflous mois-
ture or stagnant water, is an indIspensa-
BILE condition Of good wheat soil and
when such exemption does not naturally
exist, it must be produced by draining. =
A moist cool climate rs found not to be
unfavorabe to wheat, ifthe roots are pre-.
served from s,agnant water, and are al.
lowed to range in pervious soil; but in
any climate wheat will fail where the soil
is saturated with water that does not cir.
culste. To give the requisite dryness
and depth where they do not exist, drain
ing and deep blowing may be relied upon,
aud where these 60 together, with proper
manuring soil can scarcely fail to I'M
prove, or 10 be productive.
Deep blowing, on most lands as they
naturally are, and on all lands as they
should be made, is essential to good wheat
crops. The roots ofthis plant penetrate
in permeable soil to great depth, and
spread 10 a considerable distance. The
single fact of its being provided with TWO
sets Of roots, one of which spreads near
the surface, and the other strikes deeply,
is a sufficien, proof OF the necessity which
exists for deep blowing in its culture. In
few instances subso!s may be found
which will not admit of deep blowing. be-
ing composed of materials injurious to the
wheat crop; but great crops of wheat are
not to be expected on such soils.
The application of manures is very
essential point IN growing the wheat crop.
Land can be too rich, as well as too poor
for wheat, or rather the manure in the
soil may be- in that condition which rem
ders It unsuitable for wheat. There are
some crops on which fresh or unferment-
ed manure exercises good effect, and to
which it can scarcely be applied in too
large quantities, corn for instance while
on others they produce results of the most
unfavorable kind. Nearly all the cerea.
li@ are injured by fresh manures, the
stalk growing too vigorous, whiio the Der
ry is usually imperfect. Compost ma
do hx Ia nE
turf, stable manure, vegetable mold, lime,
&C., in which the decomposition is AREA.
dy effected, can scarcely be applied too
abundantly TO land otherwise well consli-
tuted. The great crops obtained around
old barns, or other decayed or removed
buildings, is proof that large quantities
Of decomposed manure may safely De
used, while a much less quantity OF fresh
or undecomposed would be fatal. One
OF the greatest evils of direct manuring
for Inc wheat crop arises from the iabli-
ty Of the gram SO MANFRED TO lodge. -
The rapid growth of the stem renders it
Unable to support its own weight, It is soft
and flexible, contains much less slick
than those grown in poorer soil the
wheat does not usually perfect its berry,
and at all times, from the thinness aud
weakness Gifts skin or cuticle, is more liza
BILE to mildew or rust. These things rem.
der it certainly unadvisable, unless the
land is very poor and reduced, to apply
unlermen,ed manure to wheat.
The rotation of crops, has furnished the
means of applying fresh manure sdvan.
tageously to crops, and a, the same time
retaining its principal value for wheat
The cultivation of corn or roots 10 alter
nation with grain crops, clover, &C.,
gives the farmer the means OF greatly in
creasing his crops, and at the same time
constantly improving his soil. 1t may
be considered as settled maxim in az.
ricullure, that land improves little or none
while nothing IS growing upon it. |. is
the geaersl Acknowledgement Of this
truth, that has substituted hoed or green
crops for naked faliows, IN the prepare
uon oil lands for wheat. Peas and clover
are among the best green crops to pre-.
cede wheat, and the latter may be con.
sdered lnseparable from the successful
culture of this grain. Corn would be
Que of the very best crops TO precede
wheat, could il 10 all cases be removed
from the land in season TO get IN the
wheat properly. The thorough msnur-
ing and filling required for corn, puts the
ground in good condition for wheat; and
should experience prove that uery iate
sown wheat is more safe from danger in
winter, and more productive than that
sown a little earlier, a result said TO be es-
tablished 10 some of the best wheat coun.
tries Of Europe, the crop OF corn would
cease TO be objectionable, and might be
considered as nearly clear gain.
There is a practice which has prevail
ed 10 a considerable extent in our wheat
producing districts, of growing wheat az
ter wheat several times in succession.
Such a system of farming deserves the
severest apprehension, and will never oe
adopted, except by those who are in a
haste TO be rich, no matter at what price,
and 10 defiance of acknowledged conse-
quences, Farmers may have succeeded
in raising good crops in this way, where
the soil was of the fine quality and excel
lent adaptation to wheat Of much Of our
western land. bu. nothing short of the