The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1857-09-09

practice, pursued from year to year,
produces marked results in the improve
ment and increased yield of the crop
Net only does such a method improve
the quality of the wheat grown, but it
is the surest plan for getting rid of foul
seeds.
Many good wheat growers thresh all
their seed wheat with a fail, to avoid
crushing the kernels by using a shreshing
machine, which often cracks or bruises
at least a tenth part of the very best
kernels. Tteir method is this: The
whole sheaves are thrown upon tie
threshing floor, and the heads beat a few
times with q fail, which takes off a por-
tion of the ripest and %plumpest grain.
The sheaves are then packed away in
the NOW to be run through a machine
at leisure. And one used to the fail
knows that by only stopping to beat off
half of the grains, he can, in a short
time, thresh a hundred bushels. It is
the last and smallest kernels that re-
quire the most of the hard knocks with
the fail.
No specific variety seed has proved
best in all sections. Experience and
observation are the safest guides in each
locality. Taking the country together,
tho Red Mediterranean has lone far
better than any other single variety.
PREPARING THE sEED.-To prevent all
dapgerSof smut it is always safest to soak
the seed 8 or 10 hours in brine strong
enough to float an egg; drain it well.
and then shovel it over on the floor with
fresh Stacked lime until every kernel is
well coated. Enough may be prepared
at a time for two or three days use, if it
be not left in a large heap to heat. The
prepared seed should not be long cx-
posed to the IN, before being covered
in the earth. The lime serves a triple
purpose; it prevents smut, helps prepare
organic matter in the soil around the
seed for furnishing the first roots with
immediate nutriment, and also aids to
destroy or prevent insects. We think
q still better soak than the above is
made by mixing one quart of tar with
five or six quarts of warm water. Coat
the seed with this, and afterwards roll it
in lime. The tar affords additional nu-
triment to the young plant. The seed
can be treated to the tar and lime and
used Immediately, or not, as may be
most convenient.
MODE OF sowING.-For very many
reasons, we strongly recommend sowing
wheat, as we'll as other seeds with q drill
machine. The seeding is done much
more uniformly, with a little more than
half the quantity of seed,-the saving
of seed in a single season is enough
alone to pay the cost of a drill, that is
on a largo farm, or where two or three
farmers unite in purchasing one. The
seed is covered at a more uniform depth
han with a harrow. Wheat growing in
drills is less likely to rust, as light and
air penetrate between the rows. Next
to drilling, blowing in is advisable. A
gang pillow is admirable for this. The
common plow, if run shallow, but at a
Uniform depth, leaves the seed il rows
with a little ridge of earth between them.
During Winter and Spring these ridges
crumble down, and materially aid to
cover and protect roots thrown out by
frost. The old plan Of narrowing in
seed, which covers q part Of the kernels
from two to six inches in depth, another
part from half an inch to two inches,
and a third part not at all, should be
discarded-the sooner the better.
THE FINISHING ToUcHEs.-Let the sur
face of every wheat field be left as
smooth as may be. The growing search
ty of labor will increase the necessity of
using harvesting machines. Let the
small stones be pressed under with the
roller, Carried of, or piled up. If grass
seed is to be sown on the wheat, now or
in the Spring, it is important to leave
the surface smooth for moving. But
the most important thing for the wheat
crop itself, is to leave it we'll drained
Remember that it is the freezing of va
ter, in the soil, and not of the soil it
self, that kills wheat. (See 5 | and s 2,
page l0l of this ~volume) If wheat
fields are rot already underdrained SO
that no water will stand in any part of
them in Winter or Spring, then special
oare should be taken to have a good sys-
tenn of deep dead burrows left well -
opened-from every low spot especially.
and then take care that none Of them
get choked or filled during Winter.
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1880 --.--z-~- |