The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-11-27
From the Ns,Dbtrry Is. CO. Sentinel.
Wheat Culture.

From the Ns,obtrry IS. CO. Sentinel.
Wheat Culture.
Being Report read before The NsUberry Agri
cultural Society, al ITS Anniversary Meeting
in July last
Experimental and systematic detail on any
one branch of farm management may benefit
many, by enabling them to appropriate the expe.
rence of others, and turn it to their own ac-
count" and while would urge uDon others the
utility of giving their various systems of man
agement and experience, feel willing in my
humble way, to contribute my mite to the gen.
eral fund. The interest involved in agriculture
is not merely the most important committed to
our charge, but more important than all others.
AS science, (for the term science is but an
other name for kno wledge,) agriculture includes,
in all its branches, a knowledge as extensive,
and as difficult completely to master, as many
of the learned professions. 1t is field contn-
ually open for new Investigations. Do you ask
me if | would make the farmer a learned man
answer yes, in AL that relates to his business,
and the processes by which it is carried forward.
In this sense | would have him learned as the
chancellor is learned in the principles of law
tire divine in theology; and the physician in anat-
omy and maJeria medica. And there can hardly
be reasonable doubt in the minds of any one
acquainted with the subject. that the formation
of agricultural societies and the holding of an
nual fairs have been The means of decided bene-
fit to the farming interest and diffusion of this
knowledge
In offering few remarks on the cultivation
G.. wheat, deem it most proper to introduce the
subject by an exposition of the general principles
and circumstances of soil, natural adaptation, eli
mate, preparation Of land, &c, which will ever
/ control the production of this important crop.
An examination of the geological map of the
State, will at once readily indicate to the intelli
gent observer what lands and portions of the
State are most naturally adapted to wheat. The
! first requisite in the culture of wheat is good
soil-that good soil is Of reddish clay
deep sub soil, that abounds in lime, is clean and
dry, and rightin the mixture and quality of other
substances. As regards soil and climate, ours
| is not so favorable and well adapted to wheat
as many portions of the United States. Per-
| haps there is not on earth a better wheat soil
than is to be found in New York, so far as the
natural capabty of the soil is concerned and
! yet it is only when the most favorable circum-
stances of seasons and temperature combine
with proper condition of the soil, that they
obtain products approaching Great Britain, from
lands under (as | am informed) no better cult
walton, and inferior in natural adaptation. The
cause of this is to be found in the excessive char
acter of our climate. Iii a frequent occurrence
that the crop is heavier than can be carried t.
profitable maturity, under the influence of oul
climate.
These influences of climate apply with more
or less injurious force TO all the United States
in one extreme or the other of heat and cold
The cultivation of wheat is limited more by the
influence of climate than by imperfections o.
soil; hence the difference in Northern anc
Southern yield. The average yield in New
York is put down at twenty bushels per acre
Ours is less than half that quantity. As the in
fuence of climate is fixed condition, and little
subject to human agency, one alternative is &c
adapt our soil to the climate; and we may dc
this chiefly by laying the land dry, and obviating
on large extent of our soil, the injurious effect
of superintendent moisture That the winter
frost, and the heat and drought of spring and
summer, affect injuriousy at The same time the
growing crop, especially in wet and heavy soils
urging their drainage also from the consideration
that they are afterward- more easily and seasona
bly, TILED, and more productive of all other
crops as well as wheat.
Preparation of The ground.-In this opera.
ton depends much the results of the yield
Plough mot scratch, as most of US do,) deep anc
thoroughly; if a stiff soil, to the depth of egh
or ten inches, then harrow and cross harrow un
til well and beautifully puverzed. RegarC
should also be had to protecting the crop from
injury during winter. This injury takes plac,
in two or more ways; first on land where toe
much water is retained near the surface, tn,
roots of the grains sometimes thrown out by tn,
heaving of the soil under the action of frost
and by alternate freezing and thawing, the
plants are left without any hold on the soil, auC
so perish. Against injury from this cause, WI
should use all practicable means TO prevent wa
ter from standing on the surface, or remaining
in too large quantities near the roots of tht
grain, and for this purpose should not only use
) drains, but should resort to subsoi ploughing
, loosening the earth to as great depth as posi-
BILE, thereby allowing the surplus water to de
scend at once so deeply, that the heaving fros
T Is In great degree avoided. As regard manure
most appropriate to the wheat crop, it is wei
settled point that the cotton seed and pea vine
! are to the South what clover, lime and plaster
, are to the North If you have plenty of cottol
seed, no other manures are necessary if moi
, and the land intended for wheat the ensuing fall
, is in corn, SOW cow-peas broadcast at lhe rat
/ of one to two bushels per acre. at the las
! ploughing. As soon your corn is gathered
turn your pea vines Thoroughly under from fiv
/ to six inches. At the proper time, SOW you
f wheat and harrow as hereafter stated under tn
' head Sowing wheat"
Wheat best adapted to our climate are th
! ealry varieties, that which grows tallest an
/ tillers or branches most, az it admits of latte
owing In fall, and natures earlier in the spring
llereby lessening the liabilities Of attack fror
. Ge fly in the fall, and rust In the spring
3 Proper quantity of Seed per acre. an
, awere farmers are not agreed as to the requst
: quantity of seed, even on the sandy lands. i
' different sections of the country the quantit
varies from three pecks TO one and hal
4 bushels lin New York two to three bushels
! per acre. The proper seeding of the land ]