The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1873-08-09
Glrt 9armer.
Wheat Culture.

Wheat requires more than other grain
a good preparation Of the land Itreqnires
deep soil, and will permit Of no water
standing III it, This is from the nature
Of the grain, which Is dainty, yet hardy,
standing the winters we'll but it wants a
good lodgment in the soil, deeply mellow,
thoroughly mellow, porous aud 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. II, further, the fertility is old,
this Is what the plant requires. It re.
quires well prepared nutriment, though il
will feed upon coarse material, rank ma
nure, but il win be at the expense of the
quality of the crop--there win not be the
bright straw or the plump berry. / have
had the same experience when sown upon
the sod.
All this points to carefully prepared
soil, and the fallow meets this, also q
cornfeld, or where roots have been raised,
or clover lea where the soil is not only
enriched, but also made mellow by the
crowd of the roots. The clover roots when
well decomposed, form good pabulunl,
and available, as they are well distributed
through the soil
Stubble turned down, and but one ploW-
ing given the land, is in general not salts
factory, though have known good wheat
to follow barley, but because the land for
barley is better prepared than for oats and
other spring crops. All seems to be point
ing, as principal thing, to the condition
Of the soil. Peas leave the land in fria-
BILE condition, without sbstracting 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 others
related to clover when the crop is matured,
as when left for seed. Some Of the very
best wheat | have known has been raised
on such land, a heavy crop of peas being
removed, and then single plowing given,
leaving the land in fine condition. Espec-
tally was that the case when the spring
crop was grown on sod which turned up
mellow and rotten, and in clay was suff ]
ciently compact.
Fertility comes next to properly-pre-
pared soil, and ripe, as we have said.
With the iallow 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 soils.
Harrow well the land If stubble, and give a
chance for the seeds to sprout. Then turn
down and apply manure. Nothing 50 good
as well rotted compost, or any decomposed
material. Spread evenly over the surface
and harrow well in. Here will be a com
paratiyely clean and mellow as well as rich
seed-bed. Grain sown viii start at once,
in a fair season, and start all and uniformly
and establish itself well. The manure ap
piled will mostly do this. Even if the
land is not an lash heap" but slightly
harsh or lumpy, ] have known it to do
well, get good growth well rooted, and
fine crop following. The soil had the
strength, and there was depth Of looseness
below.
Unless pains be taken, there is no use
in attempting to grow wheat; it won't ad-
NIT Of luck. 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 fol-
lowing was favorable and gave US fair
head and good berry. A few fields well
put in and on good soil, fenced by woods
on the north and west, had good yield
Others, without the protection of the woods,
did well; 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 advantages Of a thorough prepared
soil, Of the right kind, and with sufficient
richness. Drilling in the seed is prefera-
Bile; and on rich ground rather late sowing,
say middle Of September. The writer Is
speaking of the State of New York. In
this latitude about the 1st of October
would be the same as middle of September
there. ED. TINES. This will give
good covering and establish well the plant
without causing it to shoot up. And even
if the fall is quite unfavorable, and the
winter and spring to match, as we have
just experienced, there win still be good
set, in good, rich, warm, mellow soil,
without water standing in it. II is not
likely that we shall soon have another
such a winter, including fall and spring.
We are more likely to have warm, grow
ing fall, in which case il would be impru
dent to SOW early
The last Of September would then be
the time, and even later has succeeded.
But the course between must be aimed at,
and that will put it at about the middle Of
the month. Where the land is not strong,
and no manure has been given, a little
earlier sowing would perhaps be preferable.
Where there is waste straw, this can be
put on with profit. On poor, and especial
ly exposed land, it is decided advantage.
protecting the grain, and feeding it during
the season following. But avoid putting
wheat in poor land, badly prepared. II
IT is wished to seed down snch land, do il
without the grain, thus getting crop Of
grass, or better, clover, the same year, in
stead Of light grain crop, which is sure
to follow, and which will also be an impe-
diment to the young grass or clover