Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1868-09-18
Putting in the Wheat Crop.

DEEP plowing is always to be recon.
mended for wheat, and next in importance
in mere cultivation are the operations of
narrowing and rolling To thoroughly pull
verize the top soil in which the seed is to
be deposited. In dry seasons on clay
land, the wheat field is often left in lum'
py condition at sowing, and II dry weather
continues long afterwards great deal OF
the seed will not sprout, or If 1t does start,
will make but feeble growth, and finally
die out or winter.kill Many farmers who
complain Of bad seed or the effect of win.
ter on their wheat fields, would be surpris-
ed to find a preventive in q well pulveriz
ed seed bed. The grain sprouts quicker
and surer when the earth is so fine that,
like sand, 1t will retain some moisture
under the most burning sun. Another
reason for making the top layer of soil fine
il, that the first feeble roots of the wheat
plant can then readily find nutriment, and
1t will push forward rapidly and become
strong before winter Some soils require
the use Of the roller as we'll as the harrow,
to finely pulverize them, but the best eff
fects usually follow early plowing and the
subsequent action of air and moisture on
the clods II may be laid down as a rule
that manure brings more money properly
applied 10 the wheat crop, than to any
other ordinary farm product The best
time is just previous to sowing, and the
best method is the mixing of fine manure
with the two or three inches Of surface
soil AS II is pretty laborious 10 haul and
spread manure on plowed ground, many
farmers first haul and plow afterwards
turning the fertilizer under quite deep
We have seen this tried many times, and
no accurate observer could detect in the
crop at any subsequent stage of its growth
the action Of the manure; and we further
believe that In nine cases out of ten when
manure Of any sort is plowed under deep
the farmer receives but very small ratio
OF its actual value.
But few farmers make barnyard manure
enough to top dress the whole OF their
wheat fields; so the poorer portions get
what there is, and the others must take
their chances 1t would probably pay to
use on the latter some more concentrated
fertilizers, as ashes. plaster, lime, salt, bone
dust guano, &c. Such substances tend Ia
develop the first growth vigorously, stiffen
the straw and increase the weight and
yield of berry in proportion TO the straw
As q general thing our mAnures contain
more straw elements than grain, because
more straw than grain goes into the barn
yard, and our special fertilizers should be
chosen with the view OF aiding the devel.
opment Of the berry rather than the straw,
Suano, bone dust, ashes and lime will do
An old maxim says "manure the up
land ior corn and the lowland for wheat"
rhas, II there are low places in the field
and rather wet, where the grain stands the
winter badly, manure will give the plants
such vigorous growth and health as 10 al
most ensure good crop. such snots are
generally made Of rich soil. and under.
draining would take the place OF manure
Next TO the low land the summits az knolIe
need fertilizers the most. - -''''-'
With the introduction Of the raaosr
comes a tendency towards leaving the snr.
face Of the wheat field as smooth IA nossi.
BILE after sowing But rolling in the au.
rarnn ls guesuonanle operation, and the
omission OF surface water furrows Is ruin.