Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1860-08-23
FARMERS, COLUMN.


WAe4f ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 70 Successes
The following article from the New York World,
although intended for a more Northern latitude,
may be studied with advantages by wheatgrowers
in this region.
Looking upon the wheat crops of Central and
Western New York OF the pact few years. compar-
ing them with those formerly grown IN that favored
section, and also taking into consideration the fact
that wheatgrowing was almost abandoned among
its farmers, we would offer few remarks on the
topics indicated by our heading-hoping thus to
benefit agricultural readers. The decline OF this
great interest resulted finally from the ravages of
the wheAt nudge against which, for time remedy
seemed to have power-crops which, but Tor this
tiny insect, wonlo have equalled those of the most
palmy days Of wheatgrowing, proving an almost
total failure, year after year.
We do not think. however, that the wheat nudge
was prime cause of the general failure, and con-
sequent abandonment of this crop. Many serious
losses occurred before its advent-faiure from pow
erty of the soil, caused by growing wheat after
wheat, othe' exhaustng crOps-from want of
drainage and subsequent winter killing or rust
from late sowing on lmpertecty prepared ground,
also including blight and rust-and from general
poor management and unfavora6le seasons coinbin-
ed. All these causes-these attempts to grow wheat
by methods Of husbandry unsuited to its wants,
and but partially developing its productive capacity
prepared the wheat plant for the attacks of the
midge and it was generally found and is still, that
the poorer and later the crop the less it escaped the
attacks of this insect; while the best wheat-the
earliest healthiest. heaviest gfoWth-stll give q
remunerative product.
This fact led to the study of the requisites to sue
cessful wheat growing, and we have learned-as
the present season proves-how to escape the
greatest share of injury from the nudge, and how,
at least to grow the more hardy red wheat, and
the earliest white wheat, with most encouraging
success. Several causes must combine to produce
this resIlt-we will Indicate them in their order
below.
l, The soil capable of successful wheatgrowng
| ho 10 o,I all aifh n
loan clayey soil, made porous by artificial
drainage soil containing lime, and also the ele-
ments Ct fertility, needed TO sustain large and
healthy growth, is RoO necessity of the wheat
plant. IL must be porous SOIL that the plants may
not winter-kill and that this maturity may
not be retarded by late. wet season, should such
occur. A rich soil, if wanting in drainage, will be
cold soil as well, and produce unhealthy vege-
table growth, maturing slowly well as unevenly,
and hence extremely liable to the various casual
ties which effect the wheat crop. What is called
a iUdrn quick SOIL is most certain a thrifty,
perfect growth and an al undant product
2. We must SOW ar early and hardy variety
ike the Mediterranean, or the Golden drop or bet
ter, perhaps of the recently introduced vari
cites from the South and West-the Dayton, Ken
tucky May, the Rugg, Boughton, or Lambert wheats,
all less white in the berry, and superior for
flour, and promising well for this section. The old
red wheats have largely improved In quality and
productveness under the better culture but can,
we think, advantageousy introduce the best kinds
OF the great WheaEgr0Wlng sections OF other latl-
tudes. Wheat rpening earlier than formerly. is re-
Quisite to evade the mdge-thOugh this year and last
the favorite wheat Genesee four wheat-the SOules
has matured in some instances almost as early as
the Mediterranean, suffering very little from the
nudge. All kinds of wheat have headed out now
for two seasons, much earlier than formerly allow
ing the chaff to harden before the appearance of
the nudge, but have rpened slowly. This year the
insect was seen several days earlier than ever be-
fore, but still has been able to do little injury to the
general crop.
3. Early sowing is requisite, that the plants may
get fair autumn growth enabling them to with
stand the rigOr of winter and enter upon their
spring growth strong enough to tller and fill the
ground. About the 10th Of September will best Sc
this end, allowing, at the time, little no
room for injury by the Hessan fly, which very early
sowing is likely TO invite.
4. That the land be thoroughly titled, is also requi
Site 1t should be in the best order possible if
MANFRED before sowing, the fertilizer applied Zine
or well rOtted barn manure is the best) should be
intimately mixed with the surface soil. On rather
heavy soils there is no better preparation than a
thorough summer fallow 1t should be mellow and
moist. though if rough and cloddy it is none the
worse, it will be likely to stand the winter
than if very fine and smooth. For this reason, |
among hers 1t is better to drill lightly pillow in
the seed, leaving the ground in ridges than TO har
row and we would by means the roller I'M |
til spring. If sOwn after spring grains and we |
have seen many crops Of good wheat, recently on
both barley and Oat stubbe-give shallow blowing
10 cover the LnaL II may grow. as
soon the crop is haryested-then few weeks be-
fore sowing. pillow deeply, and let the ground lie
only narrowing down just before putting in the seed
Unless the land is very rich, and especially well !
adapted to wheat it should receive light dressing
of composted manure before this last narrowing
better, in this case, culvang with the two horse
implement. In all attend TO the surface drain
age, that heavy rains may not stand too long the
ground during winter and spring time.
5. We repeat what we have before Einted that |
freedom from the stagnant water is indispensable to
the uccessful culture of wheat. We may have the |
best varieties and give every needed attention to
fitting our ground. &C. yet if drainage is neglected
and the season proves wet our labor Is lost.
In the successful cultivation of wheat it is of the
highest Importance to have the very best seed Only
plump and perfect grains should be sown, and the
farmer should divest his seed of all light and i'm
perfect grains before he it. This may be done
by running the wheat through a good fan with |
screens suitable for separating the perfect from the
faulty grains. No farmer should sow his wheat I'M |
til he has subjected it to this process Seed thus
carefully selected if placed in a good and well pull
verified soil. at such depth as will afford due |
proportion of heat, light and moisture, say or
two inches, to produce a moderately rapid |
termination, will produce healthy vigorous plants
which will be able to withstand the rigors of the
winter. 1t is also important that a uniform quantity
of seed should be sown upon the land and great |
care should be taken to secure this result.
Another evil to be remeded is to provide efficient
surfacedrainage land that il nearly level as the
water cannot filter through the frozen crust of |
earth in winter although it may be under-drained.
This may be easily accomplished by leaving the soil
with corrugated surface (small ridges and fur
rows) which is indispensable to protect the plants
from the - dry freeze or " blowing out" This is
caused by the action of the wind on the plants when
the soil is dry and light. 1t loosens the fine soil
around the roots and the wind blows it away and
leaves the roots exposed The next freeze kills
the plant. This occurs the most extensively where
the surface is left smooth and the soil is dry and
light.
This evil is the most efectually avoided by insu-
ring vigorous lateral growth before the winter
commences, and leaving the soil with rough sur
face. Until the introduction of the corrugated field
roller, cattle and sheep treadng considered the
best modes of pulverizing the soil and pressing it to
the seed. Wherever the experiment was tried, the
yield was largely increased The extra travel of
teams the head lands almost uniformly gives that
portion of the field the best appearance and largest
yield. The smaller the seed the more important the
process, even with timothy and blue grass The eff
feet of profuse rain well pulverzed soil after
it is seeded is we'll known to all. With corrugat-
ed surface only the tops of the ridges will winter.
kill with the dry freeze and as the soil blows from
VI IL around the
roots of the remaining plants to protect and noursh
Them The stiff frame smooth surface roller does
not give uniform pressure to the soil, and it de-
stroys the winter protection andnatural cultivation
There is in the latter principle alone, fund of
wealth at present but little appreciated but deserv-
ing every farmers attention. To have the soil so
that every rain will wash the small ridges and give
a fresh surface, will add largely to the growing
|
crop The corrugated feld-rOller performs such
mutifarous duties, and meets the case so well
where all other remedies have partially or COM | !
petely failed, that at distant period it will. un
be considered an indispensable implement
to every intelligent wheat grower in the country
1t brushes the Gods, pulverzes the SOIL and presses
it to the seed in the beat possible By the
joints in the frame 1t adapts itself to the surface and
gives uniform pressure it can be loaded with any
desired weight without pressure the neCks of the
team the indentations or small burrows made in
the soil afford an excellent diffusive surface drain
age taking off the surplus water in minute streams