The Richmond Indiana palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1854-1855, 1855-08-30
HINTS on WHEAT GROWING.

HINTS on WHEAT GROWING.
The vast importance Of the Wheat crop.
not only to the farmers Of Indiana and the
west generally, but to the whole civilized
world, is our only apology for so often bring
ing the subject before our readers. Prepare
tons are already being made for putting into
the ground the germ, from which is to spring.
with the blessings Of kind Providence. the
staff of life for another year, and if our feeble
efforts could be the means of increasing. in
the most minute degree, the product Of the
next harvest, our labor will not be in vain
Nor shall we be particular to present no facts
or arguments which we have heretofore Civ
en- on the subject, considering some of these
Of sufficient value to be told again and again.
In making preparations for a crop OF wheat,
there are four great enemies to be considered,
viz the Fly. the Nudge. the Rust. and the
Winter Kill, and between all these. we are
bound, in the present state of our knowledge.
nov and then to lose the greater part OF crop,
and always TO be the losers by some
more of them.
With regard TO the first it has long been our
worst enemy, nor do We see any signs Of lis
rayages being sbated; for never has our wheat
crop suffered ever SO severely from lis un-
wearying foe. rs the past season. Some have
entertained the opinion, that like some other
species Of the insect race it would have It's
day and then disappear. But that this will be,
the country over we have little or no hope,
and we are afraid it is not even true OF locaiI-
ties. If it were. Indiana might reasonably
expect little respite. Various plans have
been suggested with an eye to its eradication,
or extinction, but we certainly regard all such
labors as utterly futile. We bound in
reason to expect it, at least for many years to
come, and must therefore do what We can to
save our wheat from its ravages. In what
way then, shall we best accomplish this end?
Early sowing and late sowing have both been
tried with very little effect. They cannot be
relied on Poor land and rich alike I'M
certain, oven "a heavy coat OF manure, which
was once thought almost proof against the
fly, has sometimes entirely failed to have any
such beneficial effect We believe II is pretty
well established. at least it is so in our mind
that there is no certainty in any thing we can
do to save our wheat from the fly, but by
sowing a hardy variety. one that has been
well tested and found to be of this character.
And among the many varieties Of wheat now
grown in this country. there are but four that
can be relied on. Among these. the bearded
Mediterranean is the foremost we have never
known it injured by the fly. and have yet to
see well authenticated statement to this effect.
1t can certainly be relied on. And where the
fly is feared. land where is it not?) We have no
hesitation IN advising farmers to sow Of j.
literally. We would think it best, however.
TO sow one or two other hardy kinds, and SO
far our experience goes, what Is known
here as the bald Mediterranean stands next
the list; we have never known it in ured by
the fly, and it has the reputation of yielding
better than the bearded. These two kinds
have been grown extensively. for the last year
OF two and have stood unmoested amid the |
general devastation We cannot but think
that, in the present uncertain condition OF the
wheat growing business, it is better not 10 /
sow, extensively at least, of any varieties but
such as are fly proof. nearly SO; thinking
it better to have full crop OF an inferior grain, !
than TO run any great risk with better kinds. (
With regard to the Nudge or milk weevil, /
and the Rust, there has, as yet. been found
no better remedy. or rather prevention. than
10 SOW the earliest ripening varieties. and 10
every means 10 hasten the time OF the
maturing of the crop. 1hese are to manure ,
literally, sow early, and on dry gravelly soil. I
The nudge as vet has done but httle injury in .
Indiana, but has been here for at least two !
years, and we NAV expect 1t. one OF these .
years, to take hold in good earnest II is 7
" Use, therefore, to prepare IN time, to give IT
as fdvorobie reception as possible. The
bearded Mediterranean wheat Is the only va
rety. which SO far as we know. has at all times
and places wthstood its ravages. We have
often noticed statements to the effect that all
kinds had suffered from the nudge, with this
exception only. Other kinds are little injur-
ed by it, but none entirely exempt from It's at
lacks.
The next point in subject to be eonsid-
cred is the Winter Kill; and if We were asked
in what way we can best prevent it We should
answer unhesitatingly. by seeding with the
Drill. Wenever were very much disposed to
fall in with and adopt new tangled systems
and new improvements, until they were fair
ly tested. and though the drill has been used
in this region only a few years we are we'll /
convinced that few if any improvements have
fury. which are of any thing like equal value.
In what way the drill prevents the injurious
effects of the winter on the wheat plants is not
fully decided, but that it does so, hardly any
one longer doubts.
We are not SO egotistc as to suppose that
our own knowledge in the art Of successful
wheat growing is superior to that of hundreds
of other farmers in our State, but having beene
raised on farm. and having paid especial at
tention. for the last few years at least, to the \
subject. both practically and by reading all that
we met with in relation to it. we would mod
estly claim to know something Of what we
speak; and we feel it duty to add our mite
To the store of information already possessed
by those engaged in the cultivation Of this inn
portant grsin.-Lnd. Farmer.
Agriculture the Proper Calling.
L. - ~ Z