Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1868-10-23
Wheat Culture-DiseuSsiOns at the
New York st ate Fair.

Hhcbl NutNuEe-BaSchSSAOh al inc
New York st ate Fair.
The subject Of wheat culture was dis
cussed quite deliberately one evening durS
ing the late New York State Fair at
Rochester. The discussion embraced
the best mode of culture and the COM
paratiye value of the deterrent varieties.
The discussion was opened by the read-
ing Of paper on the subject by Mr.. 10.
seph Harris which we gave in full in last
weeks Farm and Garden" The main
points of Mr.. Harris argument were
! That to grow wheat successfully regard
must be had to the character Of the soil
Starvation of land is as detrimental to
the growth of wheat as to animals. The
seed may be of the most approved variety
and of the best quality, but, if the soil
lacks fertilizing power and suitable pre-
paration, remunerative haryests will be
looked for, in vain. AlaVish expenditure
for commercial fertilizers viii not pay in
raising wheat. There are others, less ex-
pensiye and better for the purpose, a
rotation of crops pays well - keeping up
the vigor of the soil Sucr2ssiv uroD-
ping of the same cereal is not deemed a
paying process. 1t is true that wheat
may be successfully grown for many
years, but it will be difficult to keep the
yield up to paying point even with cost
ly manuring, and without it no profit will
be realized. Under circumstances, this
successive cropping may pay, an instance
of which was mentioned where wheat
had been sOwn twentySsix successive
years on the same ground the last yield
being fifteen bushels to the acre But
this was an exceptional case and should
not be regarded as rule. A better plan
is not to SOW wheat, on the same ground,
oftener than once in three years-four is
better still If the soil is properly pre-
pared, good seed used and a suitable ro-
tation followed, yield of forty bushels
to the acre, is attainable.
After reading by Mr.. Harris of his
paper, the discussion became general,
and is reported as follows by the Rural
Ne,O Yorker:
One gentleman said that instances were
not uncommon where high manuring
had decreased the crop of wheat by
! giving increased vitality to weeds. His
method was to manure well and plant
corn, following with barley, and then
wheat. In this way he had raised eighty
bushels of corn to the acre fifty of barley
and forty of wheat Another rotation
worked well-sowing barley, seeding to
clover, pasturing a season and then
breaking up and sowing to wheat Did
not think carly sowing essential to early
maturity. All the time needed was for
the plant to root we'll. Thought that
where the seed was drilled in, spring
cultivation augmented the yield. Imple-
ments for this purpose were yet imper-
feet, but yearly improvement of them was
being made and would succeed in MAKING
spring cultivation easy and remunera-
tive.
The succeeding speaker said he had
experimental considerably with wheat in
the valley of the Susquehalnah, with
fair success. The preparation of the
ground is an important point Low, wei
land, must be drained. Without this. g
good yield, or indeed any one at all, was
, out of the question. His method was gen.
orally corn, and then wheat His section
is more particularly dairy one. Prac.
{ ticed turning under clover and planting
/ corn without manure. This was followed
D with oats. As soon as harvested, the
5 stubble is turned under The scattered
p oats soon come up and cover the ground
T ike mat Pass the cultivator over the