The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1855-09-26

Inc reverse OF this, m our opinion, founded
nn experience, should be the practice. On
tlie stranger and richer lands, wheat or 9TH
er grain will branch or tiller freely, but not
so on the ponrer spots Many farmers sow
only Of a bushel Of wheat per acre. As a
rule, this is undoubtedly too thin seeding
though, in one instance at least, within our
own experience, a few years since, our seeds
man s0wcd broadcast by mistake, eleven acres
at the rate Of three pecks per acres; the re-
suit was 81 bushels per acre, while an ad
joining seven acres Of drilled wheat on pre-
cisely the same kind and condition Of soil,
Yielded only 26 bushels per acre.
Some farmers are in the habit Of making
frequent changes Of seed wheat, while others
sow the produce of their own soil continual-
", each being persuaded 4hat his plan is the
Best. The fact j., it is not always the finest
looking wheat which makes the best seed.
ID depends much on the nature Of the soil
where it was grnwn. Some soils are renown.
cd far aud wide, for producing good seed.
and it is well known that this seed dcgene-
fates in other soils, so that the original soil
must be resnrted TO for fresh seed. In select
ing seed wheat, much care and sound judg-
meut is requisite, to have the desired variety
in state Of purity, free from foreign seeds,
and that no heating has taken place il the
bulk. an occurrence which is fatal to seed
wheat
Wheat previous to seeding. unlergoes, or
certainly ought to undergo an operation pc
cuiar to ITSELF. termed washing, picking or
sleeping. for the purpose of preventing the
disease in wheat known as smut. Fur this
purpose some farmers use stale urine, while
Others give the preference To a strung brine.
Other washes have alsa been used. IN our
own practice We have invariably used the
brine. with unfailing success, By simply pass
ing the wheat through the brine, sklmnng
OH the light grains and impurities, which
hOat on the surface, scattering thinly on the
floor, and mixing il thoroughly with fresh
slaked lime. Other farmers prefer soaking
their seed wheat in the brine or other wash
for several hours. This practice VIC must
consider All unsafe one, ani from which the
terminating powers Of the grain are liable to
be fatally injured. We have indeed known,
in dry seasons, the seed 10 be injured by sim
ply washing it and sowing it ON the dry soil.
where there was not mDstare enough t.
maintain the tendency to gerninate induced
BY the WASHING.
There are various modes adopted by Tar.
mers for sowing wheat, but IN this country
ihey are chiefly confined to broadcast and
drilling. Up to this time the former mode
NAV be considered thr rule, the. latter the
exception. On the whole We much dnnDt
whether the drilling Of wheat will ever gain
extension III practice IN This country, nor
~
suits indicating that drilled wheat yields
more ihan carefully broaicasted seed. Our
own limited experience does not lead 10 the
conclusinn, that drilled yields more than
broadcast wheat seeding, though there was
evidently an increased growth Of straw from
the drilled, but the weighing scales proved
that there was not corresponding increase
ul grain. Some extensive and most success
FOL farmers in Lower Virginia use the drills,
and they consider that they nut only derive
an increase Of grain frnm their use. but also
accomplish saving Of labor. Their expe.
rience in this respect Is different IRON that
| 0f their brother farmers across and on the
east side the herring pand, whose inquiry IS,
j will the promised increased product pay for
/ the additional labor 0T drilling! There
drilling machines Tor wheat are By the great
b0dy ol practical farmers thrown aside, and
are chiefly used by amateurs, or in cases
where the land is foul and requires cleansing
! by cultiyating the wheat. We do not make
] these remarks Tor the purpose of disrourag-
i ing the use of wheat drills, but TO induce in.
creased inquiry ampngst farmers as to the
best mode Of accomplishing one Of the most
! important operations Of tie farm.
IN covering seed wheat much care is me-
crssary t. place il sufficiently deep IN the
/ soil, saw lrUm 2! 10 4 inches. 0nawCll pre-
! pared and mellow sulace, the cOmmnn seed
harrow will accomplish this, in uther c0ndi.
! tions Of III. surface the cultvator or truwel
hoe had better be used. followed by the har'
row. Whatever diversity OF opinion ma,
obtain amongst farmers, as TO modes Of pre-
pairing for seeding wheat, and covering il
there is, when all else Is performed, unc utheI
indispensable operation ~ be executed, with
out which all the preceding labor will b,
loand nearly nagatOry. that is, the prnpcI
aud mist Thorough surface draining ct the
ground suun in wheat, to which an excess o.
watcris destructive. rhis operation requires
60 be frequently examined during the growth
Of The wheat. to see that all the furrows are
unubstructrd.
Tie present and prospective high prices o
wheat will doubtless induce the seeding Of !
greatly increased surface this lall We Moult
not discourage the movement, but We would
earnestly urge upon nur farmers not 70 SOW
an additional acre of land that they cannn'
put in thorough cultivation Tor this impurlanl
crop. ever bearing in mind that one pr"perl,
cultivated acre will produce more than tw,
under imperfect culture.
Durs IN HORSES.
] Bots originate Irum Tie larya Of The "a,