The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1859-06-10

THE TIME TO CUT WHE.gr.

ms has been made a matter of careful ex-
pertinent IN Eng gland, and much more depends
i upon 1t than IS generally supposed.
/ From very careful series of experiments
made IN England, in lS40-4I, by MIR. John
Hannah, OF Yorkshire, with view of deter
mining the proper period of reaping wheat, it
was decided that the best time for performing
the operation is, when it is in traw'' state.
or when the straw, as seen from a distance,
appears green, bnt, closely examined, is found
to be aPproxlmatlng to yellow, and the grain
! itself, being separated from the chaff is puIpy
and soft, but not in the milky stage. This gen.
tleman has shown that, at least six dollars per
acre is lost by allowing the wheat TO become
ripe before 1t is cut and, al the same time, its
quality is not SO good.
The chief advantages derived from this me-
thod, are stated 10 be greater weight of grain
10 given space of ground, which produces
more flour, of superior quality; the straw con-
tans more nutritlve matter, and is better rel
lshed by animals; and there is a better oppor-
tunty OF securing the crop, and saving in SO
doing, as there is less waste in moving or reap
ing the wheat by the dropping out of the
seed
It will be seen 10 this matter, how much a
farmers success depends upon an accurate
knowledge of his business. Even n so small
an item as the cutting ofgrain, the owner of 6f-
ty acres would lose three hundred dollars, bv
harvesting few days too late. There are ma
ny other farm operations in which accurate
knowledge is quite as important. Is il any
wonder so many OF our farmers do not make
money when there are a hundred holes in their
pockets through which the money is dripping
out in dollars, dimes, and cents. The whole
year Is scene OF prodigal waste, for want off
lt:tle knowledge. Wood is wasted for good
stove, or tight house. Ashes is wasted for
want OF dry place 10 put them. Fodder 10
wasted for want of tight barn to shelter cat
tie in the winter nights. Manures are wasted
for want of barn cellar, and sheds and absor-
bents. Labor'is vast for want of manure to
produce maximum crops. Is it strange with all
these leaks, that The farmers till does NOT ELL up
Erpe1 lmenES an yev~,---7
twenty years ago-I think it was in the fall of
IS3S-we had piece of land containing about
three-fourths Of an acre. 1t had been moved
a long time, and needed blowing. We began to
plow il in the fall, late IN November. We used
one pair of oxen and two horses, and plowed it
deep We plowed around the whole piece,
and when it was about half done, there came
snow storm and the remainder was left until
spring. We then finished blowing ii with one
pair of horses, and of course it was plowed a.
bout hall as deep as that done in the TALL. We
narrowed it, manured all alike and planted it
with corn. The crop was good, but we could
not see any difference between the deep fall
blowing and the shallow spring blowing.
A few years afterwards-l thing it was in
lS45-we had piece of land an acre or more
which had been moved several years, and the
grass was run out. It needed blowing, and as
we had seen deep blowing highly recommen-
ded, we concluded to Try it. We had great
plough and plenty of team. We hltched on
two or three yoke OF oxen and two horses, and
turned it over deeper than ever plowed any
land before or since. 1t was probably plowed
from ten to sixteen inches deep. We harrow
ed, manured and planted as usual with corn.
The hoeing was very easy. The sod was tur-
ned under so deep, that no one would mistrust
that it was sod land. The crop was good
We did not perceive that it was either better
or worse than we have raised on The same land
with the same quantity of manure, before and
also since that time, when we have plowed it
from four to six inches deep.-Country Gent.