Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1872-08-30
.Applying Corn Culture TO Wheat,

fit is a benefit to cultivate corn between
the rows, why is it not an advantage to
give wheat the same treatment, and for
that matter, all or most of the grains?
Winter wheat has the fall and spring, as
well as the summer in part, to favor the
growth of weeds and grass, and We find
these abundantly interspersed among the
wheat. To sow crop of corn broadcast for
feed is found to be an advantage a.; to sow in
drills and cultivate is found to be still bet
ter. It pays more than the extra labor.
Wheat used to be sown broadcast and do
we'll it is now found that it will do better
in drills. Thus it follows corn. Why will
it not still further be benefited like corn if
worked between the drills, using the Guilt
yator, and even the hoe, if Unnecessary? The
truth is, we have not yet arrived at that
point of advantage. England has, so far as
the decision in favor of it is concerned.
Mechi and others have tested this matter,
and experiments in small way practiced
here have pointed the same way. Now,
since drilling is getting to be established,
let us introduce and prosecute, or at least
test, cultivating between the rows. Grass
and weeds by this means are kept out !;
ground is moister and becomes the more
fertile by it; the crop is strengthened and
kept clean (the last quite a consideration, }
and the land will have no occasion to be
self-sown with foul seed, las is usual in grain
and grass crops and neglected cornfields.
Have we too much to do, too much land
to cultivate, and too little help to do it with,
to be able to engage in this But if it IS
benefit, why neglect this and attend to 9TH
err things no more beneficial, and not per-
haps so much as this ? Why cultivate
our corn and neglect our wheat, when the
latter requires it equally, and it may be
more ? / am sorry to have it to say that L
have tested this no more than in gener-
al way in the garden, and then not so care
fully as I might. But the thing seems as
if there were more profit in treating wheat
in this way than corn. Who will give it
fair test? Who will lead off and confirm
what the English experimenters have in
troduced 80 successfully, getting the bene-
fit at the same time and at once? If har-
rowing the field with smoothing harrow
ere the grain is too large, and where there
are weeds and grass starting up, is bene-
fit, why not working the ground between
the rows and leaving the grain uninjured ?
There is a great advantage in cultiva-
ton. We find it so among trees, shrubs,
vines, hoed crops, and why should it not
also apply to grain, especially that careful,
kingly cereal, wheat? And it needs it, as
the wheat crop is degenerating among us.
1t is all important crop in rotation, and
should be made the the most of. If it is
worth following the soil for it, and giving
it the precedence of good land, why not
further improve by what is such an adj
vantage to it, cultivation? Especially such
crops as are poor or much winter killed
need this aid or weeds and grass will over
power them. Let us come to the relief OF
this fine cereal, and make it som ething like
what it is made in England Country
Gentleman ..s...