The Portland daily press., 1867-08-21
Winter wheat.

oah the farmers Of Maine grow winter
wheat and make the crop a profitable one
This Is question in which all the neonle
have deep interest. We propose IN answer
this question according to the best light we
have on the subject. We know very we'll
that our farmers are afraid to SOW mncb
wheat, and this fear has kept them back, end
the consequence is that Maine has been oblic-
ed to pay great tribute to the West. The peo.
pie Of our State every year pay immense sums
of money for -four, and il this great outlay
can be divided it would be of vast Importance
to Maine. We have population OF about
six hundred thousand. Now it is estimated
that one barrel of flour Is annually consumed
by each person. Reckoning the flour at sl2.
per barrel, the consumption of flour annually
amoupts to seven millions two hundred thou
sand dollars, large amount to pay out to the
wheat growing States. ...a...I .. 4.
But for the sake of the argument we will
deduct one quarter from that sum, and then
our tribute to the farmers of the West is ex-
ceedingly large-much larger than it ought to
be; for we believe our farmers might grow
nearly, if not quite, enough wheat to bread
the inhabitants. And we may be asked what
are our reasons for such belief? We an
swer: In the first place our soil, except
along the sea-coast, Is well adapted to the
raising of winter wheat. We aIe not now
speaking of spring wheat which might be
grown and make profitable crop. No State
in New England has better soil for winter
grain thsn our own State. This fact, we
think, will not be disputed. In the second
place eur ground is usually covered with snow
through our long winters which preserves the
young blades aud prevents them from being
"winter- killed" 1t is just as easy to grow
winter wheat as it is to grow winter rye, and
the crop is twice as valuable. But we are here
met with the cry about the fly, the weevil
and other insects. True, they have troubled
us and may do so again, but the trouble is
everywhere more or less, and should not pre-
vent our farmers from sowing wheat. There
is more or less risk in the raising Of other
crops, and always will be. But there is gen
eral and reliable promise to the husbandman
of such time and harvest, and upon this he
may safely rest his hopes and plow and sow
with cheerful faith that our Heavenly Faith
er does all things well.
How many thousand farmers expressed
their regrets last autumn that they had not
sown more wheat! And we presume there
are now the same regrets expressed. Why,
there are some farmers in Cumberland Coun-
ty who have always raised their own wheat ;
and some portions ofthe county are not favor
able to wheat-raising, especially that portion
bordering on the coast. There are many
other farmers scattered over the State who
have seldom bought barrel of flour.
We earnestly urge our farmers to change
the programme" and put in a good breadth oi
winter wheat the coming fall. But let them
remember this work must be done in season.
Don't put it off until it is too late. To guard
against winter-killing, sow carly, 50 that the
roots shall have good depth into the soil be-
fore the ground freezes. This is an important
point and must not be overlooked. 1t is now
about time in this latitude to sow winter
wheat. Plow up some of your mow-lands
and turn in the grass stubble which will be Of
great advantage. Don't say you have no land
suitable for wheat this year. That Is said ev-
cry year as il wheat required vast deal more
attention than other crops. 1t isn't so. Brush
up some of your new lands and pastures inn
mediately, and put in the wheat. Winter
wheat makes the best -four, is not so liable to
miIde W or rust as spring wheat, it being some
weeks earlier. 1t is well TO select the driest
and warmest lands for spring wheat, and the
same for winter wheat. The latter is not so II
able to be injured by insect as the former; and
these insects have been the lion in the farmers
path, and prevented him from relying on the
Scripture promise which equally applies to all
agricultural products. Once more we urge
our farmers to put in good breadth of win
ter wheat this fall and trust to a good Provi-
dence for their reward. 1af di.tsv io ao-in