The Portland daily press., 1869-03-27

PORTLAND.
Saturday Morning, March 27, 1869.
Wheat In Maine.


Wheat i'm Maine.
As the season is fast approaching when the
ground will be ready for the plow, we once
more call the attention of our farmers to the
subject of wheat cultivation. In several ar
ticles last season we urged the Importance of
this crop, and we make no apology for bring
ing the subject again to the notice of those
who live for farming-an occupation that
stands first on the list of human industries.
We have heretofore shown that the soil and
climate of Maine are well adapted to the cul-
tivation of wheat. The more we reflect upon
the subject, the more our convictions are
confirmed that Maine can raise her own
wheat. And if she can raise her own -four
why isn't it done? Why should she pay
every year such an enormous tribute to 9th
er States and to Canada for her white bread? /?
No solid or satisfactory reason ,can be gwen
for subjecting herself to such drawback up
on her industry and resources. 1t is a species
of slavery which ought not to have any abid-
ing place in our State.
Mr.. Knppart in his last annual report of
the Ohio State Board of Agriculture, argues
that Ohio cannot maintain her position as an
agricultural State unless she produces a suf-
ficient supply of bread stuffs for her own pop
ulation. Neither can Maine 1t is true that
our State has not been altogether agricultural
but she must soon come to that complexion,
for the forests of lumber are fast going on
all our rivers and streams, and this genera
ton will not pass away before these will be
so nearly used up that numbering operations
on any respectable scale win cease altogether.
Is it not true that the surest relief from the
financial embarrassments that now surround
us is to be found in agricultural enterprise
and economy? We say economy, because we
can and must obtain an increased product
per acre without materially increasing the
expense of cultivation. That is kind of
economy that will tell. 1t saves almost half
the labor on farm, and much of the ex-
pense of cultivation. 1t saves plowing, hoe
ing, narrowing and harvesting, because it
does not require so much toll and time to
harvest twenty bushels of wheat from one
acre as it does to gather the same quantity
from two acres. 1t is comparatively pleas
ure to dig three hundred bushels of potatoes
in one acre, but it is labor to dig over two
or three acres to get the same number of
bushels. 1t is so in all kinds of crops.
1t is really hard work to NOW over an acre
to get half ton of hay, but comparatively
pleasant exercise to obtain two tons from
the same area. But how about wheat culti-
walton? How can the twenty or thirty bushels
of wheat be grown upon an acre? The en-
terprise can be easily accomplished provided
the season is favorable "Ah! there's the
rub" say some of our cultivators Farmers,
what business have you to be looking up at
the clouds, or gazing up to the inconstant
moon, or prophesying = bad season for wheat
or any other crop? If you watch the clouds
and do not sow, your gamers must be empty
and your children cry for bread. Let the
spring clouds pass without your observation,
and let the moon quarter or full in ary part
of the heavens she pleases. Don't trouble
yourselves about either. Trust the divine
promises and go ahead-yes go ahead, but
not blindly. To grow good crop of wheat
you must have something to do besides go
ing. ahead. Some brains are to be exercised
as well as muscles. Your brains must Sc
lect the best seed and the most Suitable soil.
Alter that you can go to work with strong
arm and determined will And here the
question arises, is the land better titled now
than it has been in years past in consequence
OF the improvements in machinery and its
application to agricultural work? May it not
be true that fields are too much hurried over
and not SO thoroughly prepared to receive the
seed as they ought to be, or as they have
been? Mr.. Klipport wisely suggests that
improvement in the management of the soil
has not kept pace with the invention of de-
vices to reduce the. burden of labor. Such
is his opinion in relation to the management
OF Ohio farmers, and the legitimate and nat
ural consequence is, the soil does not yield so
much per acre as it otherwise would. We
don't object to labor-saving machines, but
there are serious objections to bad use of
them. And whether machines are used or
not, fields intended for wheat must be thor
oughly prepared. No crop requires higher
cultivation in order to insure an abundant
yield. The soil must be plowed deep and
thoroughly pulverized. It is quite neces-
sary that it should be prepared as wefr rfor
wheat as for a bed'of carrots.
| The truth is, farmers do not pulverize the
soil half enough before putting in the seed-
A grain of wheat is delicate seed and ought
not to be put into ground that is not made
tine by the plow and harrow. We say to the
farmer, after you suppose you have prepared
your ground for the seed, give it top dress
ing of'lime, ashes and other manures, and 90
over it once more with the harrow. You
may call this extra work if you please, but de-
pend upon it you will find your account in it
at harvest time. Wheat win not produce
paving crop if you attempt to grow it on
poorly prepared soil. -
Whatever else you do, or neglect to do,
make your ground intended for wheat, like
garden beds. If you think of sowing four
acres the coming spring and preparing them
in the common way, cultivate two acres only
and bestow upon them the same work you
intended for the four and you will probably
harvest more bushels and leave your land in
better condition for succeeding crops. Wheat
will grow well If you win give it fair chance;
but it will not do to neglect it. No sight is
more pleasing than field of thrifty wheat
waving In the summer breezes. Shall our
eyes be greeted with many such fields the
coming season? Our farmers must answer
that question, and we hope it will be answer
ed in the affirmative. Begin now to select
wheat ground if you neglected to do it last
autumn. You ought to have selected it, and
plowed it too, so that you might give it a sec
ond plowing the coming spring. Don't be
afraid of working your land too much, espe-
cialy that intended for wheat. Once more
we say, if you lack help, cultivate less acres,
but cultivate them well, and the Lord of the
harvest will amply reward you. He helps
those who help themselves.
nA AGRIcoLA.
The ENGLISH LAW OF TEsTIMoNY-The
English law in regard to testimony, which
hos hoor, n nd 81