Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1868-09-09
Farmers. Raise Your Own Wheat.
BY 5. EDWARDS TODD

THERE is no cogent reason why most cultI-
vators of the soil. in every State, may not
raise their own wheat. The climate Will
admit OF raising fair crops and other Con-
sderations, such as seed il and the enemies
of wheat, are not so difficult to manage, nor
50 formidable that a fair crop may not be
grown, if the husbandman viii only do his
duty. There are hundreds of farmers in
every State, and particularly round about
New York City, who allow land enough to be
overrun with noxious weeds and bushes to
Weld all the wheat their families require.
And we have evidence of this dishOnorable
fact, even where the land cannot be pur-
chased for 500 per acre.
How to raise a crop of wheat, then in such
places, will be the leading question. the
answer to which is by no means difficult.
Yet it may require more preparation OF the
soil than some men are willing to give. But,
the first step Will be, to remove the bushes,
stones and rubbish, in August or September
and break up the land thoroughly. Hitch a
double team to the plough, as TO cut deep
furrow slices, and turn all grass and vegeta
bic matter under neatly. After two or three
weeks, harrow the ground thoroughly, two
or three times, if the surface does not seem
mellow Should the soil be full of foul seed
it will vegetate, and the weeds may all be de-
stroyed while they small. Every two
weeks until winter SeLS III bcdTlIy the SUI
face, with wheel cutivator, like lde's, or
Alden's, which are substantially the same
implement, and one of the best implements
that can be employed in preparing ground
for wheat. But do not attempt to prepare
too much ground. Try, only one acre, or
even one-fourth of an acre, if you are doubt
full about raising wheat In October, spread
liberal dressing of barn yard scrapings,
or other manure well rotted or give the sur
face a dressing of fish guano, or Baugh's SUI
perphosphate, and work it with the cuItiva-
tor. Then collect all the wood ashes. and
coal ashes you can find; and spread fifty
bushels on one acre, if the quantity can be
obtained readily. If there is an abundance
of.vegetable matter in the SOIL sow ten or
more bushels of lime. If the land is at all
wet, drain it first. 1t will be the height OF
folly to attempt to grow wheat where there
is an excess Of water in the soil.
If the soil be heavy, and lacking in humus,
or vegetable matter, spread fifty or a hundred
wagon loads of muck or mould on an acre and
harrow it in. The same amount of sand
will also be an excellent dressing for heavy
clay and or for light mucky soil, prepare
tory to raising a crop of wheat. Let it be
borne in mind that wheat must be supplied
with nitrogenous matter and mineral man
ure. Straw manure will not subserYe the
purpose. Straw manure will not produce a
Gro. of wheat. The soil for wheat must be
mellow, rich and free from noxious weeds, as
wheat will not grow where the land is foul.
resides this, the fertilizing material in the
soil must be thoroughly decayed, as growing
wheat is exceedingly fastidlous plant.
which will not, like Indian corn, feed on
coarse material, nor on raw, undecayed
vegetable matter
Next spring, procure choice seed of some
excellent farmer who always raises superior
wheat, and drill in about one and half bush
els per acre. If a fair crop of wheat is not
produced, after the land has been prepared
in this manner, the failure must be attributed
to some influence that farmers cannot coun-
teract But there need be no fears of fail
ure, if good seed be produced 1t is more
safe to attempt to raise crop of spring
wheat than winter grain.