Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-08-10


and purifying the seed, viii reward one
a hundred fold Then cheat or chess,
oats, smut, etc, will be strangers to the
coming crop, in the succeeding spring,
and the field will be pleasant sight to
behold
Colm0n's Rural World makes the
following suggestions upon this subject
The numerous casualties to which wheat
IN late years has been liable in almost ev-
cry section Of the country, renders it neces-
sary that more care, attention and discrim-
inatlon be bestowed upon its culture than
upon any other Of our staple crops.
Every year seems to multiply the enemies
to this crop, and renders a remunerating
return more uncertain hence, the science
and skill Of the .husbandman should be
exercised TO the fullest extent to mitigate
the evils.
Wheat is the universal bread material Of
the world, and unless science shall point
Out'some means by which more uniform
and certain return may be obtained, the
day is not far distant when a full supply
can no longer be produced.
The Hessian fly has become general
enemy to the wheat crop, but much can
be done 10 avert its attacks by observing
the proper time Of sowing the seed. II IS
the early sown wheat that 10 attacked by
the fly. If the sowing is deferred until
after the insect has appeared, there is little
danger from il. This may be done and
still allow the crop sufficient time to be-
come well rooted before winter sets in.
We can fix no precise date for sowing the
seed that will apply to all sections, but the
experience Of the farmer should suggest the
proper time for his particular locality
When wheat is attacked by this insect its
mischief is not confned to the fall, but it
remains during winter between the leaf and
the main body of the plant, ready to con
tinue its work Of destruction until its pc
risd of full maturity in the spring. Little
injury will be sustained from this insect if
the proper time of sowing the seed is OBJ
served.
The next serious difficulty in the way Of
wheat growing, ia its liability to winter
kill. The injury from this cause depends,
in great degree upon the character and
mechanical condition of the soil. Wheat
upon any soil that retains an undue guam
tity Of water, is subject to the greatest in
jury from this cause. The only remedy
for this evil upon soil Of this character, is
thorough drainage-an improvement that
Is destined TO work wonderful revolution
10 American farming.
OF all the insect depredations to which
wheat is subject the Nudge is the most for
midable. Less than forty years ago this
enemy made its first appearance in this
country, and Cor a long time its depreda.
tions we're confined to narrow limits it
has since spread over a vast area Of our
country. 1t is multiplied in immense
numbers, and we know of no means by
which its rapid increase can be checked. 1t
is most destructive in those varieties of
wheat that are characterized by the thin
nest chaiE The eggs being inserted
through the chat into the forming grain
soon after it has gone out Of blossom. In
fields of wheas that come forward a few
days earlier taan the crop generally, the
Nudge will be found only in the lower and
later heads, that happen to be soft just at
the time the insect is ready to lay its eggs
this fact has suggested to some Of the best
farmers the Importance of procuring those
kinds Of wheat that mature the earliest, so
that il may become hard before the insect
merges from its winter quarters. Wheat,
eight or ten days in advance of the ordi-
nary period of ripening, often entirely es-
capes injury from this insect. Mr.. John
Johnston, of Geneva, New York, secures
from half to two-thirds of a crop of wheat,
by having it ripen a few days earlier than
others, who often lose their entire crop.
This advantage he derives from having his
soil drained, and the application Of salt
and other manures, by which means his
crop is advanced several days. Ia addi-
ton TO this, he sows the best early varieties
of wheat he can procure.
There are other casualties 10 which
wheat is liable, but the most formidable Of
which we have not before alluded to, is
rust. This, we believe, is entirely owing
10 the state of the weather at the time the
grains are filling. Wet, warm, suItry
weather, is the fruitful cause of this mala-
dy. Early maturity is the only means by
which this evil can be avoided.
Early maturity, then, is a matter Of the
first importance, as a means of avoiding
the evil effects of most Of these causes. To
secure this, the land must first be put in
the best possible order before sowing.
Where land is wet, nothing adds more to
the early maturity of any crop than COM
plete draining No soil can be warm and
suitable for any growing crop, that is satu-
rated with water. Warming and stimula-
ting manures afford additional means to
promote early maturity. Another, and
the most important consideration of them
all, is to secure early varieties for seed.
Like all other varieties of grain, there is a
marked difference in the period Of matu-
rity of the different kinds now cultivated
among us; and if the proper means were
employed, new varieties might be pro-
duced, that would ripen earlier than any Of
the kinds now cultivated. Some of the
best varieties of wheat now known among
us have been obtained By selecting the
largest early matured heads that showed
marks of superiority over the general