Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-10-05
FARM AND GARDEL.
-8,E-- .ssW asss q tsaH
THEALLENsvILLE AND OLMsTEAD
FARMERs' CLUB- ia

"heaa Suiture-Ihe Best Time and
Manner of Seeding, and the Best Va
riety Of Seed.
Reported for the Union and American.
The club met according to adjourn.
meIIf.
/ Hon W. W. Frazier asked if the club
had ever considered the question of labor in
connection with policy of Legislative ac-
ton for the promotion of immigration.
MIR. Il. Winston said that it had been dis
eussed by the club last winter in that rela-
ton; that committee was appointed to De
tltlon the Legislature on the subject, and
that the petition was drawn up, but for
some cause was not sent forward.
The secretary said he was ON the COM
mittee and drew up the petition, but got it
mlslaid III some way, and thus DELAYED,
until it would have been too late to effect
anything, as the Legislature was nearly
ready to adjourn.
| MIR. j. h. Winston asked il any member
OF the club had any knowledge of a new
| disease prevailing among poultry. A few
| days ago disease appeared among his own.
resembling paralysis, and unlike ANYTHING
he had ever seen before. They We're at
tackled with il suddenly and without any
apparent premOnitions, losing the use of
their limbs and dying in 4 few hours from
the attack. His wife had opened
one, and found nothing wrong
except an enlargement of the gall.
Several members replied that they had no
knowledge Of the disease 1
Mr.. r. ). Reeves said he had several
weeks ago sent by express fifteen dollars for
charter for the establishment of SubOr-
dnate Grange of the Patrons of Husbandry.
but had heard nothing from it. He would
write by next mail for information in regard
to it.
Mr.. B. Wins ton said he would like 10
have an understanding with such members
or the Club as wished to order fertilizers.
lie suggested the policy of combining all
such orders into one.
MIR. Reeves said he had friend in Christ
tan county who was in the habit of using
guanO Oh tobacco with good effect. His
land was rather thin and ridgy, and the
guano was used by putting a thimble full in
the bud Of the plant, after it commences to
grow well in the field. -.s- -
The appointed question for discussion was
announced to be, '"The best time and man
ner of seeding wheat and the best variety of
wheatn
Mr.. L. w. Hughes said he considered the
LIST OF October as the best time for COM
mencing to seed, and about the 10Th of the
same month as the best time for finishing
the seeding. These dates for beginning and
finishing would bring the average time to
what he regarded as the best date for seed
ing wheat. 1t is as important to prepare
the land well for wheat as for any other crop.
and it should be well ploughed Even if
the drill is to be used, the ground should be
plOughed, as it prevents the growth of weeds
in the wheat and washing of the soil, by af-
fording an under drainage. He has made
the experiment of following and rebreaking.
but found no advantage in il. He has also
seeded the same season in September and
October, and the seeding made at the latter
date produced the best result. He prefers
the drill mode of seeding, and the Emmett
drill, which can be used well in land foul
with weeds and grass. He considers the
BOughtOn wheat as the best variety ever
grown i'll the country, although some per
sons think it has deprecated in quality.
Last year his crop of sixty acres averaged
twenty-four bushels per acre, which does
not look much. if any, like depreciation.
Mr.. J. X. Winston said he had been an
advocate for early seeding, but the result of
the present years cropping had inclined him
to doubt the correctness of his views. This
seems, however, to have been an exception
al year, as to wheat culture.and it is seldom |
that the fly has been known to iniure wheat !
here. When no injury of this kind results !
to the crop, he thinks early seeding will
prove to De the best. Some Years AGO he
had small piece of land seeded in August. /
which was the best wheat he made from the
seeding Of that year. He thinks grass
should never he turned under the surface IL
a preparation for wheat, as it produces cavi-
ties IN the soil, into which the delicate roots
OF the plant penetrate, and find no nOmish-
ment 10 feed them. When this is the case
the plant loses its natural vigor. becomes }
yellow and sickly, and is easily killed by the .
frostS Of winter. II he had grassy land to
seed, he would prefer TO seed the wheat on
it, and run log over il, rather than turn
the grass under the soil. The best crop he
ever made was put in with cultivatOrs run
only one way III the corn. In a crop of one
acres the average yield was % BUSH
els per acre.
Hon. W. ". Frazier asked if BOughton
wheat would come up if not covered by
'oil' to which Mr.. Hughes replied, it would
not come up well.
Mr.. FELTON, Gill said he usually put in
v heat with the double shovel, run one wav
II the standing corn.
The President said that his custom was
he reverse, and that he generally plOwed the
owns both ways, when putting corn land in
wheat with double shOvels. This year he
'ut in his corn land partly by blowing one
way, and partly by blowing both ways. He
made fair crop on the land prepared in the
after mode, AMI nothing on that prepared
n the former way.
Mr.. y. Winston said the Conversational
manner in which the subject was being dis
lssed, would increase the difficulty Of the
secretary III reporting. This is a very i'm
'oltant question, and should be discussed in
manner calculated to promote thorough
Examination of the subject. 1t is well
nown that the lands of this country, as well
5 OF other sections, are depreciating in pro-
uctiye capacity as to wheat. Why is this I
o? While Mr.. Hughes and others have
ucceeded in keeping their lands III condi-
ion to produce twenty-five to thir- !
y bushels per acre, others could
MY grow twelve to fifteen bushels
er acre. There is cause for this,
nd it should be ascertained and discussed.
Is MS opinion That the practice l
cutting corn and taking the stalks from '
ne land is the cause, mainly, working this
eterioration. The silicates necessary for q
reducing healthy and vigorous straw are
ken off in the cornstalk, instead of being
stored to the soil, and this process of ex-
austion is producing and bringing about
diminished yield Of wheat. The practice e
putting corn land in wheat should be a
Dandoned, and the crop should he grown r
D fallow, after a crop Of clover. BY this, i
nd of rotation the elements in the soil b
Ould be preserved, instead of suIjecting ?
nd to a process of exhaustion more rapid o
ian the work of supply and restoration u
N be made to do its effect, as is the case L
growing wheat after corn. If there is t
ass upon the ground, it should be turned {
lder in the Succulent state, SO as to de- +;
impose and decay before or by time the t,
heat is seeded. The best time for faIlow- $
g land, SO as to produce these conditions, a
the month Of August. If dry grass is d
Ined under the surface, il does not decay Y
time to prevent the formation of cavities "
the soil, into which the roots of the plant Il
netrate and find no nourishment When Il
uch Succulent matter is turned under the fl
rface, lime should be used upon the SOIL Ct
Mr.. Hughes asked Mr.. Winston, if fallow- CT
9 very early with much succulent matter OF
,On the land would not produce too much ell
III and sour the soil? 10