Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1865-09-28
Preparation of Soil for Winter Wheat

In our latitude, whether winter wheat Is
to be sowed on summer fallow, or to follow
barley or oats, the ground really should
have been in the course of preparation dur
ing the month of August AS the Midge
and Hessian fly are no longer feared IN
many localities, farmers may now return to
the production of winter wheat, with the
expectation Of raising remuneratlve crops,
if they prepare the soil properly. Our eX-
perience with this crop warrants us IN stat
ing that the most effectual preventation of
the ravages Of the midge, Is thorough
preparation of the soil, and liberal appli-
cation of good, well-rotted manure, and this
has been corroborated by some of the best
wheat growers Of Western New York
The reasoning on this subject is, that a
thorough preparation Of the soil produces
a more luxuriant and healthy growth, which
will withstand the injurious attacks OF both
these insects, and every good farmer will
admit the correctness Of the logic. Wheat
of any kind needs fertilizers Of a very fine,
rich character Indian corn will feed ON
coarse, unfermcnted manure, which would
be very poorly adapted to the growth Of
wheat. All good wheat growers agree also
on this point, that winter wheat requires a
firm soil and experience proves that soils
Of this character, yield the best crops OF
wheat The light, porous and mucky soils
found on most of our table lands do not
produce as large crops of winter wheat as
ma ~ of the slopes and undulating portions
of the country However, good farmers
are learning that by plowing, narrowing
and manuring, a fair crop may be obtained
coil iE nofural1Ir f,uItn IptnrIpI.
and not adapted to the production Of winter
wheat
In preparing oats or barley stubble for
winter wheat, is should be plowed at least
two weeks previous to the time of putting
in the seed If the soil is thin, let the com
mon plow run only as deep as the soil eX-
tends then break up and pulyerize the
subsoil with the subsoil plow, instead OF
turning up too much of the barren soil from
below. The best time for putting III win
ter wheat is usually about the first Of Sep
tember Let the compost, or rotted ma
nure, be hauled and deposited in small con-
ical heaps over the field. Allowing that .
bushels are enough for one square rod,
when spread evenly, and that there are %
bushels in two-hOlse wagon load, thirty
two loads will manure one acre abundant
Iy for good crop of wheat, if the manure
is made Of the droppings Of work horses
and oxen, and fattening bullocks and sheep
that have consumed more or less coarse
grain Now spread the manure evenly on
about one acre, and bury it and mingle ii
with the soil with a two-horse cultivator
run about four inches deep. Go over it 3
or times and if there are any Jumps,
Il. Ih,
should be to mingle the manure thoroughly
, with three or four inches in depth of the
! best soil, and to have that depth finely pull
vcrized, so that the grain may have not on
Iy a good seed bed to germinate in, but be
supplied with an abundance of available
nourshment for promoting the growth OF
the young plants, so that they may acquire
large growth, or mass Of roots before
winter This will be an excellent security
against "heaving out" by freezing and
thrawing, and it will also prepare the
plants for starting early the following
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