Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1873-07-23
Wheat Culture.

Wheat requires, more than other grains,
a good preparation of the land 1t re-
quires deep soil and will permit of no
water standing in it.. This is from the
nature of the grain, which is dainty, yet
hardy, standing the winters well; but it
wants a good lodg1ment'in the SOIL deeply
mellow, thoroughly mellow, porous and
breathing, letting the water, down and the
moisture up. If the soil is a clay soil, or
one that packs close, hugging the plants
snug, all the better; this is the experience
with this grain. If, further, the fertility
is old, this is what the plant requires. It
requires well prepared nuriment, though
it will feed upon coarse material, rank
manure, but it will be at the expense of
the quality of the crop-there will not be
the bright straw or the plump berry. |
have had the same experience when sown
upon sod. #k#tH8 HF
All this points to a carefully prepared
soil, and the tallow meets this also corn
field, or where roots have been raised. or
clover lea where the soil is not only en-
riched, but also made mellow by the
crowd of the roots. The clover roots.when
well decomposed, form a good pabulum,
and available, as they are well distributed
through the soil
Stubble turned down, and but one blow
ing given the land, is in general not salts
factory, though [ have known good wheat
follow barley, but because the land for
barley is better prepared than for oats and
other spring crops. All seems to be
pointing, as aprincipal thing, to the con-
dition of the soil. Peas leave the land in
a friable condition, without abstracting
much from its richness, if indeed any, as
the stubble and debris of the plant. as well
as the root, afford considerable material
for plant food in this respect, and in 9TH
ers related to clover when the crop is ma
tured, as when left for seed Some of the
very best Of wheat have known has been
raised on such land, heavy crop of peas
being removed, and then a single blowing
given, leaving the land in fine condition.
Especially was this the case when the
spring crop was grown on sod which turn
ed up mellowed and rotten, and in CLAY
which was sufficiently compact -
Fertility comes next to a properly-pre-
pared soil, and ripe, as we have said.
With the falloW there is Of course the best
| chance to use manure; get it well mixed
with the soil and rOtted making indeed
soil Of it. But those who have no fallow
may still do something on other good soil.
| Harrow well the land if stubble, and give
chance for the seeds to sprout Then
turn down and apply manure Nothing
so good as well-rotted compost, or any de-
composed material. Spread evenly over
the surface and harrow well in. Here
! will be comparatively clean and mellow
as we'll as rich seed-bed. Grain sown will
start at once, in fair season, and start all
| and uniformly, and establish itself we'll
The manure applied will mostly do this.
Even if the land is not an 'ash-heap,n but
! slightly harsh or lumpy, | have known it
to do well, get a good growth well rooted,
| and fine crop following. The soil had
the strength, and there was depth Of loose
ness below.
Unless pains be taken, there is no use in
attempting to grow wheat; it won't admit
of luck. There must be richness, and
there must be preparation Of soil. The
| past winter was a very severe test. The
| fall was bad, the winter was bad, and the
| spring was bad; the weather following
| was favorable, and gave us fair head and
a good berry A few fields well put in
and on good soil, fenced by woods on the
north and west, had a good yield; others,
without the protection of the woods, did
we'll; but in such cases all were on dry or
| drained soil, and were put in well. Wheat
| will stand good deal if it has all the ad
vantages of ACKNOWLEDGEMENT soil,
of the right kind, and with suffi
cient richness. Drilling in the seed
| is preferable; and on rich ground rather
late sowing, say middle of September
This will give good covering and estab-
| lish well the plant without causing it to