Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-08-30
Preparation OF Land for wheat
From nc Western Rural.


One cropsf wheat has scarcely been re-
moved from the harvest field, when prepa-
ration must be made for another. II
naked fallow is the method Of preparation
adopted, the operation Of tilling must be
commenced long before the grain crops are
ripe
In preparing land for wheat, deep plow
ing is essential, but a due consideration
should be given TO the nature of the soil,
for if the active vegetables mold, or sur
face soil, is in, and the subsoil cold and
clayey, deep blowing may bury the former
too deep and turn up too much of the lat
ter. If the soil is deep loan or vegetable
mold, deep blowing will be beneficial.
There are various methods of preparing
soil for wheat, such as following with three
or four plowings; blowing once and rem
derinp the surface mellow with the harrow
and cultivator; blowing in the grain, and
then pulverizing the surface with the har-
row. There are also various methods of
covering the grain, but the most intelligent
farmers give the preference 10 the drill
machine, which, where the soil has been
properly titled, deposits the seed evenly,
and covers il with a uniform depth of soil.
Some persons think that one blowing is
a sufficient preparation for wheat, but this
mode of operation is not adapted TO all
soils. 1t is true that in light soils, one
plowing. with the assistance of the culu-
vator and harrow, may be sufficient but
in others. frequent blowing will be neces-
sary. After a deep blowing the grubber,
or wheel cultivator may in some soils SUI
persede the pillow in the preparation OF
land for wheat, as il goes over the ground
much faster than the pillow, can be made 10
penetrate TO a sufficient depth, and pos
sesses a decided advantage over the pillow,
by bringing up roots of weeds 20 the sur
face, and leaving them to be killed by ex-
posure TO the sun.
1t is possible that frequent blowing may
render some soils too light and loose for
the growth OF wheat, as shis crop requires a
firm, cohesive soil in which TO anchor its
roots; but the farmer need not fear that
frequent blowing will dissipate the most
important ingredients of the soil on the
contrary il will increase them consider
ably.
Professor Low, in his Practice of Ag-
ricnlture." say that, 20 receive the benefits
of a sufficient fallow, it will be necessary
10 pillow the land several times, in order to
liberate the Imprisoned ingredients of the
soil. and ht them TO be received hto the
minute roots OF plants
Liebig says that in following, soils an,
exposed 70 the action Of the weather, for
the purpose Of enriching them in certain
soluble ingredients.
In his Il Lectures on the Chemistry oil
Vegetation" Dr. Lyon Playfair says that, 4
the soluble silicaie ofpotash be exhausted II
a soil wheat cannot again grow IN H. pnul
either by manure or following, the sou
il again furnished with sufficient quantity
In many places wheat soils are manure'
by the combined action OF clover, plaster
and sheep dung. When the soil Is natural
ly deficient in lime and sulphuric acid, O
has been rendered so by repeated cropping
these ingredients must be supplied beiof'
clover can be produced. The want IS sup
piled by manuring with plaster, and viii
this addition 10 the sell, the clover grow
luxuriantly, and sending downits long tal
roots into the sub-soil, collects such iuor
ganic ingredients rs are necessary 20 bUilc
up the plants, and brings them to th'
surface. Sheep eat the clover, and seattle
ITS constituent parts over the ground
together with considerable quantitie
of amonia formed in the urine Th
clover is then piowed in, and nj
that il has received from the sub
soil and the atmosphere is rendered solo
bic by decay, and is readily absorbe,
by the ROOFS Of the wheat. This mode o
treatment may succeed we'll for some time
but its ultimate effect will be, that not onl