The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1872-09-06
F.7R.UEysS, CLEB.

Farmers Club OF Van Buren, County met at
the Court House Aug. 9lst. Subject for dis
cussion: - Preparation of ground, varieties of
seed and general cultivation of wheat.
d. j.. Woodman has been engaged in raising
wheat, more or less, since he was boy. 1t is
very important that the soil should be well pre-
pared more so than when the land was new.
To kill juno grass, pillow az early as you can
after the ground is dry with jointer pillow, and
work the top with the harrow and gang pillow.
or any kind of tool that will not tear up the
sod. June grass root is all fibre, and when IT
is decomposed it is nutrition to the wheat plant:
but June grass growing with the wheat destroys
the crop by sapping the soil. Wheat the next
year after corn is very good way, as it makes
a good clean faow thinks it will not pay any
farmer to SOW wheat after corn the same season.
He has been raising the old fashioned Mediter-
ranean, but has abandoned it, and raises the
delhi variety entirely. Wheat sown with
drill will yield more per acre than any kind OF
broadcast sowing next to that is putting IN
with gang pillow. He has been studying the
markets considerably. and thinks the crop
good average one, or 10000, 900 bu. in the whole
country but Of this, large proportion is No.
2 winter and spring wheat. In our county, and
IN one or two adjoining US, we have the best
wheat in Michigan, and such wheat is good
thing to have at any time. Wheat will bring
a good price before the close of navigation.
f. P. Mills has endeavored to grow all the
wheat he could per acre. and has succeeded but
on good clover sod. Has fine crop this
year on June grass sod He plows but once
on sod and works the surface nth gang pillow,
but on corn stubble fallow ne plows twice
He thinks every thing OF gang plow for sur
face cultivation it cuts off all the roots OF
grass and weeds, and covers the top. lie is
best pleased with the delhi variety. ses a
drill, and thinks that the best way 20 SOW any
kind Of gram
D. woodman is very much in favor o: a
jointer in plowIng June grass. lie never la >
raised any OF the Treadwell, but grows the
dehl altogether. Is IN favor OF drilling, as 1t
is all sown at the same depth, more particu-
larry in sowing oats, as those kernels but par
TALLY covered never amount to anything He
sows five pecks Of wheat to the acre; has tried
two bushels, but the straw was finer and the
head shorter.
Mr.. Bale thinks the gang pillow best for a
June grass sod, but favors a wheel cultiyator
for ordinary falows. He would use jointer
for all sod blowing. Taking all the chances,
he would as soon have corn stubble, well
manfred, as any preparation FOX wheat. Where
he top dresses with manure he has much trouble
with sorel, but where he plows it in. the seeds
seem to have been smothered. He thinks that
by top dressing we are sowing future difficulties
TO contend with. DO our best, seeds Will get
in our Yards Sorrel seeds will be brought in
threshiug machines, carried into the straw auc
thus DE carried out in the manure. The Thom
az Smoothing Harrow IS a good thing IL SONS
instances where smoothing only is needed
He has quit sowing anything but the deihl HI
thinks hght soil should be more i.shty seeded
than heavier soils He practices Gaping hii
wheat, and certainly thinks il the proper wa.
to perfect the grain; it Is not only protection
from the ram, but also from the sun, which h
thinks Injuries the berry for milling purposes
by standing TOO long exposed.
I. L. Harrison said raising wheat was yer.
old question, and yet there isn't that CERTAIN
knowledge about its culture that wac desirable
The best wheat he has raised was after corr
the same year. HIS land ls a heavy clay loan
new and strong, but that is not according t
l theory, and not good farming. lie don't pro
pose to raise wheat on June grass sod, for h
don't propose to raise June grass. lie expect
to pillow his sod before June grass gets the star
he intends to raise wheat on clover sod. II
!, will cut off, or pasture Off crop OF clover
pillow. and roll Immediately after blowing :
keep tie sod from tearing up by after cutivs
n ton, then harrow. and then gang pillow. II
would keep moving the soil he thinks tillag
+, is manure, by keeping new surfaces exposed t
the atmosphere. Common broad cast sowin
and narrowing in is poor farming. He woul
}. SOW and put in with gang pillow. The whea
root is short and fbrous, and does not reac
/. out to all parts of the ground He doesn
n want a summer-falow that Is fit for shee
J. pasture; he would have il 80 clean that shee
Z wouldn't do well on it. Ii is bad farming {
n raise weeds. lie would harrow wheat in th
) spring, has had experience that corroborate
= the theory. lie thinks farmers can raise whea
; for s1.65 per bu., and that is what wheat ha
e been selling for on the line Of the r. Il. II
thinks we have the best whit, wheat land i