Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1858-09-21
EARLY Ripeninr YEhent.

FdTmer, Is Of growing interest, aud everything tend
ing to economy and success in its management is
worthy Of attention.
The point Of early ripening has become one Of
peculiar Importance, from the character of the
enemies with which the crUp has to contend,
Early sowing (say before the 9TH Of October) in
this latitude, is prohibited Of late years, by the
prevalence of fly. Yet carly sowing is almost es
sential TO save the crop from what for many years
was greater evil than Fly-the Rust. For two or
three years previous to the present, this enemy
was escaped. Before that, for a long time, it was
very prevalent and destructive, and has proved on
the whole, in ten years past, more formidable
evil than the Fly. Now another enemy threatens
the wheat grower Of the Middle and Southern states
we mean the Midgs. It has made its appearance
this season to some extent in Maryland, and will
increase there is doubt if means are not devised
to prevent it. In Western New York, it has now
almost put stop to the cultivation of the crop in
one Of the finest wheat growing regions. The only
preventive is early ripening, aud ths is said to be
sfectusl. john Johnston, one Of the most success
ful.farmers Of Western New York, offers thousand
dollars reward for the discovery of method Of
ripening wheat ten days earlier than the usual
time The attack Of the insect is said to be period
ieal and the hardening Of the grain before the
time of depositing the egg, is believed to be sure
safeguard.
Wheat ripening in this latitude by the goth of
June, will ordinarily, we believe, escape the Rust
It would probably likewise escape the AIidge. But
there is no wheat of well establised character in
other respects, which will ripen certainly by this
time, unless it be sOEn much earlier than the period
above named to secure it from destruction by Fly.
To avoid Fly on one hand, and Rust and ATidge on
the other, we want good wheat, which need not be
sown before the 9Th Of Oc.Ober rpen certainly by
the 2Oth Of June. II would not, We think, be dfi
cult matter if proper pains taken in the selec
tiOn Of seed to obtain such result is worthy Of
attention. and of the utmost pains that may be taken
to effect it.
The past season has been truly disoOuragiDg to
a large proportion Of wheat growers. The greatest
promise with which they were ever gladdened, was
bTgbted without remedy-leaving them less very
often than the actual cost Of seed and fertilizers
They will do well, however to bear in mind that in
all cases. the chances vastly in favor Of what
| call, high cultivation. The best preparation Of
the ground, and when it is necessary, liberal use
Of fertilizers, will generally ensure success. With
out these, there is very little chance of it. Lei
every one do his best aud he need not fear to trust
the results to the wise ordering of that Overrulne
| Providence which can make failure more profitable
than success.
The following article upon this subject is copied
| from the Washington Star:
I The New York Tribune SAYS that Jno. johnson
Of Northern New York, the pioneer in the science
of s'underdraining" in this country, offers premi
um Of $1,000 to any one who viii tell him how t
ripen wheat sen days earlier than 1t ripens now
/ None but observing farmers comprehend the vas
benefit to the country which the acquisition Of gooC
| wheat ripening thus early would be. 1t would d
away with three fourths Of the damage now done b,
the rust at the South and by the midge at the North
as well perhaps half the damage from the fly
Joint worm SC, which invariably affect tender anC
backward wheat first; the more vigorous stalks be
ing comparatively free from their ravages
Our plan for trying to getsn earlier ripening Whea
that is the plan We are pursuing--is as follows
To select for seed the produce Of the portions Of hC
fields ripeniRg first, and in cleaning it, to as far
possible rid il Of every grain not entirely perfec
and well developed. To ploW very deep in break
ingup and to ferilize highly, and, further, to SOY
the seed so selected exposures suited for early ri
pening. We think that he result viii be that in
few years we shall have a wheat which viii OutgroI
| almost all Danger OF tue ny anu Fueb-a flBOEOu
wheat with early ripenng tendencies as one Of it
particular characteristics.
We are satisfied that with the seed plump AM
perfect and the land properly prepared, The bes
time for sowing wheat in this region is between tn
| Ist and 10Th of October, as near as may be. Tn
use Of the drill will enable any farmer, even thoug
designing to put in thousands Of acres Of wheat,
get it in between those dates unless rains prevent
which our experience teaches does not often happer
A machine drill requires the services Of two hand
and three horses, and should plant fifteen acres pc
diem, which to be plOughed IN IN the same TIN
would REQUIRE the service Of ten hands and ten nor
ses Additional hands hardest to be obtained
everywhere lust when most needed by the tarme
who does not resort 10 the drill and the machin
reaner-at the seasons Of planting and harvesting
, The machines are, in fact, farm hands Of the mo-
valuable kind requiring nothing Tor their suPpo
l | while their services arc not needed' anu De4hB a
yavs ready to do efficient and invaluable labor Whe
reGuired 10 20 10 work. As tbs use Of the drill Ell
abies the farmer TO select his own time for getiI
in his crop. by making him entirely independe
of the additional, aud usually, unobtainable, lab
10 his regular force) he otherwise invariably stan
: in need Of in planting time, so the machine reap
/ makes him entirely independent Of assistance TO
o regular force in harvesting. Nanny and Wo
q reaper, with hand to drive and another to raE
will certainly do The work Of four best Graders Wit
out danger to health it not life itself, conseque
upon hand harvesting in July. Fifteen acres ?
diem is fair average lor the Hork OF such reap
Every farmer knows the importance-in its {
feet on the value aud quantity Of his grain harVe
ed-of being able to select his own time for cuth
it. A lack Of force, causing delay Of from o
ID day TO q week, owing TO the great variablsnesss
the weather just at that season, not unfrequenl
makes a difference Of from ten to twenty-five !
s. centum in the money realized from the sales OF
te crop. The farmer who sOWs three hundred acres
q wheat If harvesting by hand labor altogether shot
I'd be able to at least fifteen cradles to be entir
! certain that he will not be damaged BY moist
y cloudy weather. Not farmer in hundr
planting no more than three hundred acres 10 Whe
is able to set such "a squadron in The field IN
dition to the necessary force Of binders and rake
So, if he would use due precaution, he must res
to the machine reapers, keeping as many Of th
as his crop may require. He would make mol
hand>over fist by having always on hand sufiei
to cut his.WhOle crop in four fair working days.
en- know, from experience, that the wear and tear