Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1855-09-22
Soil best Adapted to Wheat.

All of our commonly cultivated plants are
composed of precisely the same elements, the
only chemical difference between the vast
variety of plants being the relative proportions
in which the same clements unite to form the
plant SO that if a soil will produce any one
of our cultivated crops, it possesses the capacity,
so far as the elements OF plants are concerned,
of growing any other crop to some extent
In Judging of the best to be cultivated on any
particular soil, therefore we have to look to
the relative proportion in wi II the elements
of plants exist in the soil, and adopt the class
OF plants which requires most Of the particular
elements in which the soil abOundS, or requires
at least of those in which it is deficient. This
would seem to be q common sense view of the
subject, yet there are many other circumstances,
often overlooked, which, if considered would
materially affect our conclusions. In a large
crop of corn there are all the elements which
q large crop of contains, and also in large
quantities yet are thousands of acres Of land
that produce immense crops Of corn that can
not be proftably cultivated with wheat. \
good wheat soil will always produce a good
crop of corn, if properly titled, while much of
our best corn land will not produce wheat un-
der ordinary culture. The cause of this great
difference is not, we have shown, owing to a
deficiency in the soil of any element of the
wheat plant, for the requirements Of the corn
crop are indentical in kind and greater in
quantity than that of wheat. 1t must, there
fore, be owing either to the manner in which
the various elements are assimilated by the plant,
or to the existence in the soil of some sub
stance which, though sufficient, it may exist in
a corn soil for the actual demands of the wheat
crop, yet from the different habits of the two
plants, amuch larger quantity may be necessary
for the performance of the healthy functions OF
the wheat than the corn plant. This substance
is most probably clay !; for all soils, which
experience proves to be the best adapted to
wheat culture, abound with this substance and
lime. The reason why clay is so much more
necessary and beneficial for wheat than for corn,
is not clearly understood.
In light soil the wheat plant is found to
throw its lateral roots very near the surface,
while in a clayey or heavy soil it is more in
clined to top, and TIT. lateral, fbrous roots are
at a greater depth. In the former case the
plant would be more likely to hcave out in the
spring, while in the latter it would be better
able to stand the vicisSitudes of cold and heat,
from the roots being at a greater depth, and
having q irmer hold of the soil. 1t is there
fore probable that one of the benefits which
the wheat plant derives from clay is its prevcl. .
ing the extension of fbrous surface roots, and
forcing the plant to grow out a single tap root,
which deScendS much deeper and takes a firm
err hold of the soil.
If this is a right view of the subject, we
should loosen the sub-soil of all our wheat
fields, by deep blowing aud sub-soiling while
on soils rather too light for wheat, every
possible means should be used to render the
soil compact and firm. Treading the wheat in
the fall with sheep has been practised with adj
vantage /; but in doing SO, caution is necessary
to prevent serious injury in case winter imme-
diately sets in. On all soils which produce
good crops of corn, We believe wheat may be
grown, insomuch as there is nothing lacking
which enters into the wheat plant, and all that
is necessary is to impart to the soil a certain
degree of texture and t~enacity, which all good
natural wheat soil possesses. For this purpose
heavy rollers and other mechanical means must
be employed, and presSer something similar to
CrosskilFs Clod Crusher, of which we have
often spoken, would be of great benefit. We
DO not wish to be understood to say that con-
soidatlon is the only thing necessary in all
al cases, TO insure a wheat crop on soil where
corn barley and oats flourish for the land
may In the winter be SO wet as to destroy the
plant yet, If drained and means be taken to
renoer the surface compact, we believe sreh
'0'- "oHlo produce hrst-rate crops of wheat.