The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1857-09-09
s9fpartment.
From the American Agriculturist.


HINTS ON WHEAT SowING.-Having
discussed this subject somewhat fully in
cur last volume, we do not propose to
take it up again at length before next
year. There are some hints, however,
which cannot be too often, nor too strong
ly presented.
Sow EARLY.-There is only one promi-
nent objection to early sowing, viz that
the Hessian fly attacks early sown wheat
the most severely. But the ravsges of
this insect, (which works only in the
stalk like those of the Chinch Bug, are
confined to comparatively limited locali-
ties. The present great enemy to the
wheat crop, throughout the country, is
the Nudge, or yellow wheat gnat, Ter
roneously called the weevil, or yellow
wecvil,) which is produced from the egg
of the C~lear-wiDged Wheat Fly, (Ceci.
domyia Tritici.) TLet it be noted that
the HcSsian Fly attacks the stalk, in
the Autumn and Spring; the weevil at
t2cks the ripe grain, usually after it is
in the NOW, stack or granary; while the
egg of the Nudge is laid in the imma-
ture grain, and matches put into a little
yellow worm. or gDat, which only eats
the grain while still soft. Now, we
beliese, all experience proves that the
Nudge is least injurious to early sown,
or early ripening wheat. This insect is
not Matched until somewhat late in the
Spring or Summer, and as it can only
injure the grain while soft, wheat ripen-
ing very early gets out of the way be-
fore the Nudge can materially affect it.
To avoid it as much as possible, then,
SOW early in Autumn, that the crop may
get well started this season; SOW the
earliest maturing varieties, and hasten
the crop forward by maturing, and by
making the soil dry as possible by drain
ing or ditching. In answer to the nu-
merous inquiries for a remedy against
this pest, we can give no better specific
than the ORC here stated. Various
remedies have been proposed, such as
burning sulphur in the field, scattering
lime over grain; while wet with dew
during the setting of the grain, but none
of these have as yet proved valuable,
so far as We can learn.
Early sown wheat is less liable to
winter-kill and to rotting in the ground,
and, everything considered, we say get
the seed into the ground now, just as
soon as possible. Nature is a good
prompter, and she sows the mex crop as
soon as the ripe grain falls from the
North of this latitude al degs)
it would be better if every kernel of
seed could be in the ground before the
of September; and it should moi
be delayed beyond Oct. LIST, for several
degrees of latitude south of this, though
good crops are often raised in Maryland,
Delaware, Virginia, Kentucky, Tennes-
see, Missouri and southern portions of
Illinois, and Ohio, from seed sown as
as the last of October. Earlier
is desirable, however.
PREPARING THE SoIL.-The best prop
of the soil is to pillow in deeply a
heavy crop of clover, and afterwards
pulverize the surface thoroughly with
the harrow, roller, gang plow, or Guilt
vator, or with the common pillow run
Let the clover or sod, turned
under, lie u~ndisturbed. What
ever may be the previous preparation,
let tho final job before sowing seed be,
to reduce the surface to a fine filth. A
with sharp cornered teeth, run
often over the surface, will be pretty ef-
MANuREs.-As above stated, green
or sol land turned under, are ex-
Lime sown broad cast,
md we'll narrowed in, is good for wheat
10 to Is bushels per acre on light
soils, and 25 10 SO bushels or moro on
heavy clay or peaty land, may be used.
There are few light and loamy soils on
which it will not pay to SOW a few bush
els of plaster per acre--2 to u or more
bushels, according to the good or poor
condition of the soil. Guano, genuine
Peruvian only,) and finely ground or
dissolved unburnt bones are the very best
manures for wheat. Guano should be
mixed with the soil some
days before sowing the seed. Bone dust
may be put in with the seed, and if in
direct contact with it all the BETTER
But no one can economically use any
purchased manures for wheat, while he
has a mass of barn-yard manure decay
ing around the stalls or cattle pens
The soils Of the West, already rich in
organic manures. save the "soak,"
described below. On these soils, how
ever, re think a moderate coating of
lime, where it is accessible, will be found
to produce a good effect. Wherever
manure of any kind is used, let it be
we'll and deeply mixed with the soil.
Sow GooD PLUMP sEED.-On this point,
turn to page 70 of this volume,
No.,) and read the first column.
plump kernels furnish JUS. the
kind of nutriment needed to give the