The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1860-11-09
suBsrANesi . ras eRAls AND srnAw.
The organic pc
dL6ttmae'l, gl'''
dextrinN

zen, starch, more than half gun,
sugar, &c.
he time of cutting affects the weight Of
produce as well rs the quantity of organic
matter, and the relative proportions of -four
and bran. Johnston gives some experts
ments in cutting with the following results
That cut twenty days before ripe gave 100
pounds of grain that cut ten days before
gave 900 pounds; that fully ripe 200
pounds. The yield of -four and bran were
the same in proportion-in favor of the
portion cut ten days before ripe.
The best wheat soils are those which con-
tain portion of clay with lime and potash.
Boussingault estimates " rich wheat lands"
to contain IS per cent. Of clay, 10 Of sand, 4
of lime, and IL of humus but we do not
deem it ut all necessary for the production
of the largest crops that the soil shall con-
sist of three-fourths clay-not at all. Nor
is per cent. of lime essential. In Great
Britain, good crops of wheat are taken from
very sandy soils, where the alternating sys-
tenn is employed. By adopting a good sys-
TEN of rotation, with turnips and clover,
and sheep, we can produce wheat on any
arabic soil.
AS a scourging crop, wheat must be plac-
ed at the head of the lists of grains. Accord
ing to Boussingault, medium crop taken
from one acre of ground, in grain and straw
Z pounds phosphoric acid, 2 pounds sui
phuric acik, of chlorine, 16 pounds of lime,
ID pounds magnesia, "a pounds potash and
soda, III pounds silica-and alumina. 1t is
therefore found impolitic, and indeed i'm
practicable, to grow this grain for sdveral
years in succession.
Wheat, more than any other grain crop
except barley, requires dry soil. 1t can
not endure an excess of water either iii the
soil or sub-soil. 1t is water which by freez-
ing and thawing causes the much complain
ed of winter killing, rusting, &c. Wheat was
never known to winter kill on dry soil,
and seldom to rust. A dry SOIL therefore, is
the first requisitiOn III growing wheat with
profit. Next in Importance is good condi-
ton. No farmer-and especially no poor
farmer-can afford to raise poor crop of
wheat. Three poor crops of wheat in sue
cession-where this grain is made the al
most sole dependence as it is in the West
will cripple his energies for twice that mum
Der of years to follow. The land should
not only be we'll cultivated, but should be
supplied with all the element taken up by
the crop as indicated by the above analysis.
Wheat may he safely and profitable
grown after corn, barley, or oats, providing
the land is in good condition otherwise it is
bad practice under any circumstances.
Taking series ct years into the account
estimating the influence of seaSons and the
depredations Of insects, there is no better
method of growing wheat than the old fall
low system affords. Ii there is more labor,
there is also less hazard or risk. If there
loss of the use of the land during one sum-
NOR crop, there is generally gain in the
amount OF crop sufficient to make it up
This system admits of thoroughly working
the land which the plan of sowing after an
other crop will not in every case allow, and
this consideration is one of the highest inn
portanCG. What can not be done in the
best manner, had better be let alone alto
gether This is the first rule in arabic farm
ing r-- 90 o. q. e
The waste of seed is very great in our
common broadcast way of seeding. Stephens
nede the following calculation Wheat at
60 pounds to the bushel, gives 81 of its seeds
to the dTachm; or 70l, 268 apothecaries
weight, or 865, 40 in avoirdupois weight.
Now, three bushels of seed are sown to the
acre or 2, 595, $40 grains of wheat, Suppose
that each grain produces one stem, and
every stem bears an ear containing the COM
mon number of 30 grains, the produce of an
acre would be &c bushels but the heaviest
crop in Scotland rarely exceeds GA bushels
TO the acre, or SO per cent. of the seed is lost
III tue btSt crops, anu % pei cent. III AN Or
binary one of 10 bushels. This is a subject
of great magnitude, although we seldom
sow more than bushel and half or two
bushels of 60 pounds to the acre. The lossof
seed is attributable 10 two causes, imperfect
grain and covering too deeply. We are TOO
careless in the preparation of seed for the
field. The small light grains should all be
taken out, and this may be done to great
perfection with the eagle fan, now manu-
featured by Jarvis Co, at Laporte, Indiana.
Then We SOW in very inconsiderRte
Misunderstanding the seed on the ground so
rough and uneven that il is with difficulty
he who casts the grain can keep n straight
course or an even step across the field. In
no case should wheat be buried deeper than
two inches. In order to gerninate freely
the seed must have air, warmth, and moist
ure. If it is covered too deeply il will not
! sprout for want of air and heat. Old wheat
/ is better for sowing than new.
1t is less affected by bad weather and it,
sects, and the stocks are more numerous and
vigorous. The proper way to keep old wheat
/ for seed, is not TO thresh it and let it remain
exposed to air in the bin, bat put upon some
/ safe scaffOld, let it remain unthreshed until
/ seeding time arrives. Then let the thrtsh
ing be done by horses.
la judging Of seed the dimp!ed end should
be distinctly marked, and the point from
which the roots protrude must be somew hat
prominent, as if it was swollen.-H'Rts
! Merchants Adgdzine. .t