Red Wing sentinel. [volume] (Red Wing, M.T. [i.e. Minn.]) 1855-1861, 1860-03-21
For the Sentinel.
WHEAT GROWING.

For the Sentinel.
WHEAT GROWING.
Mr.. EDITOR AS whatever contributes
to the success Of Agriculture benefits the
whole population, wish to say y few
things to my fellow farmers Of this great
and growing interest. And, leaving the
numerous other branches entirely unnot'ced
| propose combining my remarks solely to
the culture of wheat.
That this grain is more readily converted
INTO cash, than either of the other kinds of
grain produced in our State, and is at the
same time, more rcmuncrative is a fact, of
which there is no room, for doubt. It fol-
lows as necessary consequence, that if
wheat growing cannot be made proftat le,
grain raising Of no kind as separate branch
OF industry can. But whether any thing,
can be made by raising wheat, and if any
thing, eoaat, are questions Of vital import
ance to the farmer.
Some have affirmed, that nothing can
be made at tanning in this country" while
others are Of the opinion that "a man can
do pretty we'll at it."
But, if the pro luction Of wheat is to be
made profitable to the farmer, how is he to
proceed to make it SO? In reply to .;nis
last question, I might say, lei everything
be done at the proper time, and in the best
manner. But to he more specific, l would
say, the ground must be put in the best or
der possible to promote the growth and ma
turity Of the Kind Of wheat that is to BE-
sown. For instance, if he intends sowing
the Black sea variety, and has very deep
fertile soil, the blowing should be shallow /;
otherwise it sill grow so tall that it will be
very liable to "lodge," as this kind Of
wheat has slender straw and grows very
tall. But if he intends raising grain Of a
shorter growth, and sitter straw, let him
plough deep and pulverizc the soil as thor
oughly as possible.
If his soil is of a heavy clayey character,
let it be plowcd deep, and we'll pulverized,
no matter what kind Of wheat is to he sown
upon it.
In one word every farmer should thorough
" understand the character of the soil he
ti'ls, and govern himself accordingly in its
preparation to receive the seed he intends
sowing.
The ground being in proper order, and
the seed being Of the very best quality,
(nothing else should be sown,) it should be
put into the ground from one to two inches
deep. In light Sandy soil, it should be buried
deeper than in that which is more compact.
This being done, put on the Roller; this will
pay from two to five times the expense o,
rolling it. In one instance in my obserya-
ton, year, before last, it increased the crou
more tan seventy-tive rer cent.
1t would be we'll to have several kinds
sown, the ripenng of which at different
times, would secure to him more time for
harvesting.
Let him be certain to harvest il ut the
right time. A very short delay At this time
will determine whether or not he makes
Anything at farming.
That wheat should be harvested earlier
than it i: generally done, am very conf
dent; for like all other operations in the
vegetable economy, the ripenins Of the grain
consists entirely Of various chemical pro.
cesses, the results Of which should be care
fully considered by the farmer
When the ear, (head) first fills, it is CON-
posed, almost entirely Of a milky looking
substance. in week or ten days, the grain
is much more solid, and the straw has begun
to wither, which it always does from the
ground, towards the head. In another
week or ten days, the crop will be perfectly
ripe; that is the chaff will be 50 loose that
the grain can be nubhed out with the hands
and the straw entirely yellow. The most
perceptible difference that has taken place
since the last period is, the bran or skin has
become much thicker and harder while tho
-four has diminished IN quantity. This last
fact should not lie overlooked by any pro-
Queer! II is affirmed by those who have ex-
perimentcd on the subject, that mere than
10 per cent, is lost to the producer by
allowing the wheat to become thoroughly
ripe before it is cut, and that, at the same
time the quality is not so good (See Pat.
OF: Reports, 1866, page 246.)