Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1870-09-23
Agrnnltural.
From the Lewiston Journal
SPRING WHEAT.


the whole, think, greateI falling off in
the yield was caused by rust or blight.
Last season was very remarkable one.
and of the character that tended 10 pro-
duce blight. Sudden alterations from
clouds to sunshine attended with more or
less wet. at tie critical period when wheat
is in blossom or the grains just beginning
to ill is very likely to produce rust.
To be successful in growing crop OF
wheat, the right kind OF soil should be
selected. A high, loamy ridge, not over
charged with moisture will be found a
favorable situation. Elevated positions
that admit of free current Of air, seem
10 be favorable, rs have known crop
10 be severely injured in valley, from
both cause spoken of above. while crop
raised from seed sOvn the same day on
elevated land. escaped injury. A slight
ly tenacious soil. or as it is termed, u prct-
" stiff loan, If sufficiently dry, would be
preferable, Stiff or clayey soils are, how
ever, more reienlive of wafer, and unless
drained are liable to Toe sHrcharged in
wet season. and this induces blight.
Wheat is very good crop to follow
corn. The ground should be well ma
nured Tor the corn crop and kept clean
from weeds. This is better than 10 apply
fresh barn-yard manure to the crop as il
induces too rank a growth ofsIraw which
is very apt TO lodge down. or it ii does
not is liable TO rust Wheat is not SO
gross feeder Is corn. Will q is bare
" possible 10 make land too rich for corn,
il Is au easy matter to do 50 for wheat,
much to the dctrimeut OF the Yield OF
grain. \ hight dressing of rotten com
post in conn cction with few leads oi
ashes to the acre, OF a few hundred
pounds of ground bones, form good
fertilizer for wheat. These manures will
not increase The tendency 10 rust
Salt has been found beneficial as an APP
plication for wheat, and in soi,s deficient
of the elements of common salt, viz
chlorine and soda. there can be no doubt
rs to It's efficacy Mr. John Johnston,
near Geneva, y. Y, one of the best
farmers in the county, has long been in
the habit cf applying sat to his wheat
land at the rate of from two to three
hundred pounds per acre. Its effect when
applied 10 wheat, is 10 check the growth
of straw, which thus becomes more stiff,
less liable 70 lodge down. and couse-
quently would mature eaylier. give
Brighter straw, and more plump and heavy
grain and of course a larger yield. On
MANY soils no doubt the application OF one
or two hundred pounds Of plaster to the
acre would show good results.
Early sowing Is Indispensable. The
earlier sOvn the better. provided the
ground is in good condition. for the crop
will be more likely TO escape rust aud
injury from the nudge. and the better it
will a.. on the whole. Ii is true. by
sowing lte, say from the lst to the 5lh Of
June, the wheat will not be far enough
advanced Tor The attack OF the nudge ill
the season iCrit> ravagcs is nearly or quite
passed, but then the danger from early
frosts Is hardly less than that incurred Ly
the insect by sowing lew weeks earlier.
Early sowing, other conditions being
favOraUie, think a pretty sure and the
only remedy for The nudge
For number OF ycals made il rule
TO SOW my wheat the 20th of MAY. At
that time the nudge was not nearly so
common rs now, and fair crops were
realized, ranging from ten 10 twenty
bushels to the buShel sown. After
while, the midge made It's appearance in
much Increased numbers. and wheat-rais-
ing became such n precarious business
that it was entirely abandoned by many
farmers. Some still pcr>evered in it, Is.
pecially those that had new land 10 clear
on hiIlSides and elevated positions. where
early trusts ate unknown, and the
northern winds had fair sweep. In such
localities COOL crops were almost alwavs
realized little, if any, injury being caused
by the nudge. The culture OF wheat on
such lauds became SO successful that
many farmers on old farms bought wild
lots and cleared the forests from them.
and were bountifully repaid for their
labors in harvesting good crops OF fine,
heavy. wheat.
OF late years it has been found that
wheat sown on y rich. light. quick soil as
early as the last week in April. is abou,
sure 10 escape the insect have taken
considerable pains to gather facts in
relation to this subject. and have come to
the conclusion that it is far preferable TO
SOW early, say, not later than the 9th of
May.
1t IS an important matter to obtain good
seed. Good, heavy. plump grain will
produce more vigorous plants than
shrunken or light grains, and of course
will not De so susceptible to injury from
uniavorable agencies. Another point is.
don't be spaSing OF seed. One and halt
TO two bushels to the acre, broadcast, is
not too much. Robbers in the shape Of
weeds will spring up il the plants stand
too thinly on the ground. and appropriate
the food that belongs TO the wheat. and