Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1868-03-27
farm, Garden & S4oaafhold.
WHEAT AND ITS CULTURE.

very interesting, as embracing the views OF
practical farmers on the subject of wheat and
its culture:
The Secretary was appointed TO open the
subject, who thought that majority OF our
farmers we're too careless in selecting their
seed wheat; while many of them took partie'
uIar care in selecting and keeping their seed
corn. they seem to forget that the same rules
would apply just as well to wheat. His plan
was to select his seed wheat IN the field before
cutting; he usually picked out about an acre,
and allowed it to stand until fully ripe, and
then cut and hauled it direct to the barns he
usually went through it once before it was too
ripe, for the purpose Of removing any stalks
Of rye or cookie which might chance to grow
His acre usually produced about twenty-five
bushels. This he ran through the fan twIce
to remove the chat, and then through a third
time. with the fan running at high rate OF
speed. in order to blow out the light grams
By this practice he usually reduced bis TWEEN
ty.fye bushels, each Of sixty two pounds, to
twenty, each sixty-four pounds. This Is
enough 10 put in from ten to twelve acres, he
used for seed. The light wheat thrown over
was again thrown into the pile and taken to
the mill and ground for home use. lie drill
ed in his seed at the rate of one bushel and
one peck per acre, and was of opinion that
a majority of our farmers used.too muchseed.
He had found that one grain of wheat, in
common field culture, would produce four or
FIVE stalks if room was afforded il to spread,
hence his opinion as to the amount Of seed
Il, good garden soil he had produced twelve
stalks to one grain, and each stalk produced
a good sized head Of grain, He always rolls
his wheat fields in the spring, as soon as the
ground is dry enough, in order to press back
and cover any roots which may have been
thrown out by the frost. Thinks this opera
ton Of great benefit to the growth of the
clover seed, which is sown just previous to
the rolling.
Another member also brought his seed
wheat into the barn with the other, but saved
more than one acre. In order to get the seed
he threshed the sheayes for a short time with
a common fail, this removed only the ripest
and heaviest grains. By this plan he had no
difficulty in obtaining seed which would
weigh sixty three pounds per bushel from the
bulk Of his crop, which averaged but sixty
one pounds per bushel. He very seldom used
so much seed as bushel and peck, often
one half peck less. Does not roll his wheat
field in the fall, as he thinks the ridges left
by the drill should moulder down ou the
wheat by the action Of the frost during the
winter Always cuts his wheat some ten
days before It is fully ripe, and then with a
reaper which deposits it in the proper sized
bundles for sheaves. One year he tried sep
arating the lighter grains from his seed by the
use Of brine, but did not ike it as well as his
present plan, which was more economical.
Had tried plowing twice for wheat, but did
not think it Of much benefit to the wheat, but
vas very beneficial to the ensuing crops of
grass.
The next member who delivered his opin-
ion Joined farms with the last one, and follow
ed the same plan in selecting his seed, but
used rather more to the acre, say bushel
and twelve quarts. Had tried several home
made and bought manures to help out his
lime gave him the greater benefit at the least
expenditure of capital He mixed Eve bush
els of coarse salt with ten of air Stacked lime
three months before it was needed, and during
this time turned it three tines sowed il
broad cast before the last narrowing, at the
rate Of three bushels per acre. If he had not
barnyard manure enough, he preferred to
spread it over the whole field, and apply the
lime and salt mixture before the wheat was
drilled, aad over all the field. He consider,
common salt as an excellent top. dressing fol
wheat on his land, but cannot speak for other
soils. He has sowed FIVE bushels of common
plaster instead Of the ten bushels Of air slack
ed lime, and thinks the effect was about the
same in both cases. He has used salt for va
rious crops not now under consideration viii
like success, but would not recommend it fo
all soils.
Another member had experimental in th'
manner Of applying barn-yard manure tl
wheat, and reported the result as follows
His usual plan is to plow twice, but year be
fore last he was pushed for time and short o
help, and not expecting to have time to ploy
twice, he hauled out his manure and spread
it on the oat stubble in the usual manner
and plowed it under to the depth Of abou
eight inches. After the field was all plowed
finding that he had some spare time, be Sc
his man and team to blowing aportion (abou
two acres) a second time, which was don
about an inch deeper than the first blowing
The manure of the two acres was, when it wa
applied, in the state in which manure usually
comes out of the yard in the spring, and haC
been plowed under about two weeks befort
the commencement Of the second plowing
The manure was not in the way of the secou,
plowing, and there was no more left upon tn
surface than upon the rest of the field wher
it was plowed but once During the sprin
and summer the wheat upon the part of tn
field twice plowed looked better and Of
darker green, and at harvest time yielded tn
heaviest and best flied wheat. The grass o.
the two acres is quite as good as the other
but to all present appearances the artifcia
grasses (cloyer and timo thy will be crowde
out by the natural growth sooner on the tw
acres than on the rest Of the field.
he had tried plowing the manure of tn
same field under at different depths, Of six
seven, nine, and ten inches, aud found HI
best plan to plow down his stubbIe to tn
depth of nine or ten inches Chis surface sol
is about eleven to twelve inches thick, the