The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1872-09-07
Che farmer.
The Sowing of Wheat.

As the time is at hand for preparing
for another wheat crop, any suggestions
that may be calculated to improve the
yield, would seem to be now 10 order.
We recently published in the ADyo-
CATE the result of an experiment in
wheat culture, which gave an increase
over the ordinary method of seeding.
And, lest it be not remembered, We
repeat il, here. that any of the farmers
Ct Carroll, who feel like making the expe-
riment, may do so, this fall. The plan
pursued WIS this The wheat was
seeded in the ordinary way, by drill,
except that every other spout of the
drill was stopped. The result was an
increased yield, per acre. We hope
that some of our farmers may try it, il
only on small scale, and note the
result.
While on the subject of wheat seed.
ing, we subjoin the following, by the
agricultural editor of the Baltimore
american.
As the farmers will be soon making
preparation for the sowing of their
wheat, suggestion is made by the
Germantown Telegraph worthy Of con.
sideration. II is found that there has
been serious injury to almost all the
wheat in that region that was sown on
the northern Of northwestern slopes.
in many of these cases the plants are
so thinly set out on the ground that no
effort will be made TO harvest the pro-
duct. In some instances the result
would not be couple of bushels to
the acre, Now aud then we see lot
of wheat which has partly a northern
aspect and partly southern one the
latter 10 excellent condition, but the
other portion nearly killed outright.
All this plainly shows that it was the
cold northern winds Of March, acting
no doubt on surface clear of snow.
which did the mischief"
One fact in connection with this
state Of things is also gathered that
wherever the wheat was sown earlier
than others on these northern slopes,
there is less injury; aud it is inferred
that the degree of injury seems proper.
tionatc to the lateness Of sowing, con.
sequently il this result shall be found
to havc been generally the case, SO far
as such locations are concerned, the
proper time for sowing wheat, ques-
tioo frequently mooted, is earlier than
that usually adopted, wherever there
c&n be choice of time.
There are other causes operating to
producs losses in this crop. There is
something radically wrong in our sys-
TEN which should be more thoroughly
investigated. II is dwiDdling dowa to
point which will hardly pay for its
cultivation. Ia this aud the adjacent
Sta,ss the average is less than twelve
bushels to the acre, probably not more
than eight to ten; in England, where it
IL stated on reliable authority that the
had is not naturally more fertile than
our own, this is but third the average
quantity raised there. 1t was formerly
the case that the E6glish product was
no larger than is ours at the present
time, but by al improved system Of
husbandry, the large crops now pro
duced have been obtained. If lands
which have been worked for centuries
can be made to produce such results
surely there can be no reason why ours
cannot be made to do so likewise.
As the lands Of England have been
found to possess such recuperative pow.
ers in them, why not those Of this eoun
try This question must be brought
home to every landholder for his decis.
ion. There can be DO hesitation in be
lieving that by system Of deeper
blowing, the draining Of wet lands, aud
a liberal supply Of suitable manure for
each crop, combined with proper 70.
tation, our poorest quality of land can
be made to produce two to three times
as much as they now yield Let farm.
ers read more aud study the subject of
the Improvement of the soil, aud they
will be convinced from the results Of
the practice of reliable meu, that by
following the example set them, they
will be enabled in very little while to
increase the value Of their farms far
beyond the price that they would new
sell for.