Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1851-11-14
AarlGmltt(ral, Ar.
SDrIRg Wheat.

The following article, which we copy
from the October number OF tile faf!h
Journal, on the subject Of sowing Spring
Wheat as one of our regular crops, IN
PENNSYLVANIA, is deserving, we think, seri-
GUS attention. Judge Jessup writes from
his own experience in the raising oil this
trop, and gives such information as ought
TO satisfy every practical farmer OF the
value of this crop in many localities over
winter grain--Or al least as an additional
crop which ought 10 find place III the
farmers catalogue.
SPRING WHEAT.-This grain IS already
very important 10 large farming dIsIrIc'S III
Pennsylvania, and may most ProhiaoIy be
cultivated in many paris OF The state
where winter wheat in great measure
fails. The objections urged against it geu-
eraIlv, are three. /. That it is inferior IN
quality. =. That il is liable to smut; and
3. That it is an uncertain crop, owing to
us being so frequently blghted and shrunk
by mildew. But from an experience and
examination of seven years, | am convinced
that these objections are not well ground
ed. As in all crops, the quality depends
mach on cultivation. With good culilva-
tlon the Italian wheat weighs sixty 10 SIX
tv-two pounds, and yields forty to forty
three pounds Of su1ertine -four to the
Dushel. The flour. although not quite as
white, makes IS good bread as any winter
wheat Il has usually slight yeloWish
tinge. II wheat were not TOO ntlch Judged
OF bv the whiteness Of lis -four, ! doubt
not that good Italian wheat would soon
rank as high in the market as Nediter2-
mean winter wheat.
The second objection is entirely obvat-
ed by proper preparation of the seed. /
have had nO smut fer many years, except
where / have sOWn wheat without wash!
ing and Inning. Ny process is 10 wash
my wheat thoroughly in strong lime, which
raises TO the surface all oats and other
light seeds, which are SKINNED of. While
wet il is thrown upon the barn ioor, and
finely pulverized quick lime in small guam
.ities sifted over il. The whole IS so
mixed that every kernel is coated with
lime. 1t may safely be left IN this way
for several days before sowing. If sown
Immediately the lime is unpleasant to the
hand, and to prevent its iniuring the sower,
small quantity Of gypsum IS scattered
over it. No smut is ever found i'll spring
wheat prepared in this manner. The salt,
lime, and gypsum are all admirable man
ures.
The third objection IS obviatod by early
sowing. In large districts in the northern
part Of the State it is difficult to plough
early. The soil is heavy clay and loan,
and retains the water very long. II is alb
solute ruin to the crop 10 plough while
wet, and consequently the farmer who re-
lies upon spring ploughiug for his wheat
will be unable to SOW before the last OF
April or the first of Maya month too
late here. The ploughlng must be done
IN the fall and the sowing at the earliest
practicable day, after the frost is out of the
ground. The best spring wheat in guam
tIty and quality which have ever known
raised, was upon green sward, which
had been turned under late in November. .
and upon which the wheat was sown with /
out further ploughing, the latter days of
March. A very light dragging lengthwise |
of the furrow, before sowing, and the
wheat lightly was dragged in so as not to
raise the sod. Sown in this way it will
ne fit TO harvest the latter part of July. |
Wheat which ripens III July is seldom af-
tected with miIdew. Two bushels of seed
should he sown per acre.
| have tried the Baltic wheat. which IS
said to be successfully cultivated in Yer
mont, bat it is greatly inferior in quality
as well as quantity to the Italian.
WILLIAM JEssrP.
N0nho8e, Tug. lG, 1851.