American Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1855-1860, 1859-08-25
.farmtr's Column.
Mepur,ns the VI sea, COP.

Menuring the Wheat Crop
In the palwy days ofwheat growing in
Western and Centrsl New York, the ap-
plcstion Of active mspures directly to this
crop was not generally praetieed The
opinion widely prevailed that such,a course
was injurious, by stimulating heavy
growth of straw at Ihe expense oftbegrsin
and in the rsnkuess and succnleney OF the
former, increasing the liability 70 lodge.
aud tending also to produce rust and mil
dew 10 the standing grain. 10 someiD-
stances. no doubt, high msnuring bas been
followed By such results, but in many more
large crops Of wheat have rewarded the
application. We took occasion some eight
years ago. TO urge the subject upoE the
attention OF your brother farmer, and the
cur,en. OF events influencing the wheat
crop during that time, has brought It far
II ore forcibIy upon their attention.
We throw away cur seed and labor, now
days in sowing any hut tigh, warm,
quick soils 10 wheat. We must get q
large growth Of healthy, early !, matnripg
plants, or the wheat midge will destroy
yhe whole product This we have urged
10 former article, and viii revert more
strictly to The subject indicated in our
heading. 81 i.s.
Ofall grains, says chemical analysis,
whest has more ni,rogeDous substances
than any other. Fifteen per cent. Of the
organic matter Of the grain OF wheat be-
longs to This class Although The straw
may grow luxarianily, the grain cannot
be foimed without it. "Up 10 tive forps,
tion or The kernels, - says writer On tais
subject, Ordinary soils, With rain, dew or
air lan furnish and grow the wheat plant.
But when it comes to the fruiting part. the
plant has to seek in the soil for the mate
risls out ofwhicb to fabricate its seed
II is necessary. therefore, that there be
| in such soil what we farmers call nntiitiVe
or putrescent manure something out Of
which nitrogen can be formed" This is
furnished in harn-yard manure. and other
fertilizers Of like character. These in a
partially decompOsed state and hence fur
nishing almost Immediately nutriment for
the crop, we would ,spply TO favorable
soils before sowing them with wheat.
Many farmers have been 10 the haiti Of
applying their stock Of yard manure in u
green or long state in the spring, to land
intended for corn; reserVipg little or none
for composing or for application to the
wheat crop. Blu, this practice is becom-
ing less generals and we now find frequent
ly those who prefer keeping the manure
in the yard until well Gecomposed. and
placing it in heaps for use the next season;
applying it also upon winter grain, il they
SOW it, and as a top dressing for. grass
land. This course is usually very success
full Though land heavily mebured for
corn, will produce good crops OF wheat and
barley following, it is seldom that the area
which may be SO manured and deyoied.
embraces half the extent we desire for
growing grain. which would produce il il
enriched sufficiently. Hence we see that
we need more manure, as well as 10 study
the most effective application of The same.
More manure may Ue had ty compost
{ ing that obtained from our farm stock with
vegetable mOld-the muck OF swamps and
marsbss-the turf and wash OF rosds--tbe
scrapings Of ponds and bitches. We have
doubled the amount and value Of our yard
( manure by mixing it with muck from the
swamp. and fermenting the same together
in heaps oosely laid up and properly moist
ened. This was used at the rate OF twelve
l1ads per acre on land sown in wheat last
autumn, being merely eang-plOwed in be-
fore sowing. A small plot net dressed,
shows very marked diffetence--the
growth is less than bali OF that on the ma
nured portion, and the product viii be Of
little if OF any value,
We hope the lesson Of the past few years
will not be lost on tht Sc who begin, after
all. to think the wheat midgs less the enc
my Of the farmer than his own imYrovi
dent course 10 cropping with, this grsin 81
II il shall induce us to better enriching
and cultivation OF the soil, and more
careful study OF the nature and demands
ofour different crops, it viii profe TO the
country at large blessing and not q
curse. fit leads the mass Of farmers. as
it has many Of them, 70 employ every
available meansof Increasing the quantity
and quality Of the masure made upon their
farms. and to study atlentiyely the, most
effective application Of the same for grow
ing the most profitable crops, i. viii do
more for the advancement Of agriculture,
than almost aay other means which, are
likely to be employed. We would there:
fore urge immediate attention to the prep
aratioD Of manure for applying 70 the wheat
crop. and from our own experience and
. observation, think that oomposted manure, ,
mixed with the surface soilby narrowing
or very shallow plowing. will prove Of lhs
+ greatest benefit to the crop. ibis method
Is practiced by the most successful wheat
growers Of the present day.--LThs coun-
/ try Gentlen an.
EEA schoOlboy Of about six, years Of
age approached the master with Q bold