The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1860-11-21
hints on Raising Wheat"

4iuts Vh RdlsiuS " WAC8s.
Under tbs caption, the Ohio Farmer pub
lshes the following excellent article.
The cultivation Of this most important Of
eli our cereals has never Jet been reduced to
science iu this country. In the early his
tory OF American Agriculture. It may bave
been imp ossble and unnecessary TO do this
tut such is not now the case. Then, farm
ers were without capital with which TO con-
duct the mos, improved system Of culture,
and such was the richness OF the virgin soil
ihnt success was almost certain, whatever the
course pursued. Then diseases were lees
numerous. and insects less injurious, 90 wc
did not need to steer 20 true q course % to
avoid The one, and still keep clear Of the 9TH
er. Then, in many places. markets were
% distant and difficult Of access, and prices
50 low that il mnde little difference wheih-
er our yield was Eve or fifty bushels per acre.
At present. this state Of affsirs is exactly
tho reverse Now. the soils are becoming
partially exhausted Of their richness. and .
great yield j. less certain. Now, insects and
disease frequently destroy onc-third or more
Of the crop. Now, markets are 90 much
greater in extent and easy Of access. that
u j. an important matter that our yield be ss
lsrge as possible. Now. the circumstances
IRE such. that the culture OF wheat should
be reduced 70 : science. % fer a. such s|
Thing is possible, in order that failure may
b. less certain from any uafavorsble innu.
ences. In Great Britain, this hss already
partially been done. and the result il that the
yield Of wheat per acre has been very large
y increased. and is now more than twice eel
great ss in this country; and we're Il not for
The fact that the average there Is very much
reduced by the results Of unskillful farming
the product would be more than :hree times
our product. Numerous are the instances
where forty bushels are harvested. and not
nnfrequen,lv on large farms fifty and sixty
are produced. Coleman. in bis European
agriculture. mentions one crop where the
yield was over ninety bushels per acre!
How have these results been produced!
and i !, possible 10 reproduce them on this
side the waseri We answer: They are the
result, Of the most skillful aud exact system
" culture which has Jet been devised.-
The application Of the laws Of nature, and
knowledge Of tho fact that these laws will
not apply themselves; that chance will not
always produce favorable results; that Ego
ing j blind" is going for On uncertainty;
q. 10 word, scientific farming" has made
the change. The powerful aid Of draining
has been brought 70 boar upon tho soil with
such effects. that many large tracts. which
before would not produce wheat st aIl, nov
produce wonderfully. There are thousa nds of
acres in this country Of the very best wheat
land. II drained. which now. on account cf
the sisgnsnt water. will not produce wheat
at oil; and other thousands which farmers
blindly contisue 20 SOW, hoping for : favor.
able season, but generally hoping in vain. -
Su6.soil pIowing is another agency By which
this result has bssa produced; and yet,
strange 70 ssy. there are whole regions II \
This country where The ssb-soil plow he's
never been introduced. A systematic rota-
lion Of crops. 10 which wheat & Rro~ q with
regularity On the sane soil every third o.
fourth year. q the eass may b, l. prac;iesd:
course Too few farmers practice With %.
The growth Of roots and their consump-
ION on the land By stock for the manure, sI'
prsctice almoss unknown In America. Il an .
important element 10 The EnglIsh system of|e