Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1868-09-05
Wheat Culture in Kentucky and
South Of it.

As a general rule, in cultivating
plants for subsistence, the time OF COM
hitting the seed to the earth should be
so regulated as to secure to the crop
that part of the growing season best
suited to the habits Of the plant to be
cultivated as for example the Irish
potato, which thrivcs best in cool, moist
weather, such as belongs to tue climate
of Ireland, should be planted carly, so.
as to have the advantage of the mlld
weather and genial showers of April,
May and early June--a practice attend
ed with such good results as to secure
the adoption of that period among cul>
tivators in localities similar 90 this in
climate for planting the main crop.
Wheat is a plaut more northern IN
its habits than the Irish potato, and Is,
perhaps, more benefited than the potato
by having that part Of its development
which begins with starting the culm and
ends in the perfection Of the berry to
take place before the extreme hot
weather of summer comes on. But
there arc some difficulties which lie III
the way of fixing seed time so as to
have the growth of the plants in the
spring at the right stage, to secure the
benefits of this genial period OF the
growing season. If we could adjust
things to the greatest advantage, it
would involve sowing tho wheat crop in
autumn so early that the plants wculd
spread by tillering till they occupied
the ground, and had reached that point
in their growth which, BY the vigor and
abundance of the blades, indicates a
readiness TO start into "jOiuting," as
the tanners phrase by the end of
autumn and advent OF winter; 50 that
severe frost might suspend tho growth
of the plants during winter aud yet not
have power TO throw them out OF the
ground by repeated freezing and thaw-
ing. Plants 50 treated, instead OF
wasting the precious moments OF the
succeeding spring in forming new
system of roots aud III acquiring yigor
to throw out culms, would be ready for
vigorous growth at once, aud would
head out aud ripen greatly IN advance
Of crop feeble IN spring by reason OF
late sowing or rigorous winter weather.
In this latitude, il other causes did not
exist to influence the farmer in the
choice of seed time over and above that
which would likely afford reasonable
time for the plant to attain the proper
vigor by the advent of winter, the au-
spicious days for sowing would lie
between the first aud middle OF Septcm
Der. But others 10 often occur which
make it prudent to vary the time OF
sowing. 1t may be too dry for grain
20 vegetato and grow kindly, and a
plant which is fairly dwarfed in autumn
for want of water will be feeble plant
in spiing. More than this, there arc
certain insect enemies which may visit
tho wheat crop in autumn, which alway'
iniure aud sometimes destroy the crop
Prudence may require tho farmer It
postpone sowing 10 u time that vii.
coycrly bring the plants up at the
comiug of the first white frost, it being
understood that these insect enemies
will not colonize for the winter in {
field unless they can gain u footLolu
before the hard frosts Of autumn have
set iu--the period for sowing which
meets with most favor in this latitude
As we 20 South tho summers grow
longer, ipse@acti that, if the first o
October were fixed upon for the time o.
sowing wheat in Kentucky, Mississippi
would have to sow in November abou
one month later, provided there wa
danger of inroad from insect euemles
The manner Of putting in the whea
crop has an effect on its general thrift
aud ultimate ripening also. This plan
delights in clean filth, aud we hav
known a crop on frequently stirred sum