The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1873-09-18
Winter Wheat Culture.

Wheat culture has been as generally
discussed, perhaps, as any other subject
connected with agriculture, and vet there
is a wide field for Improvement in the
growing of this cereal 1t is too commonly
the case that wheat is sown upon any land
which can be conveniently prepared, re-
gardless of its adaptation to the growing
of that particular grain, and light returns
are the consequence The first question
that the farmer should ask, when con
tempating putting in Il crop Of wheat is
is the land suitable for that species of
grain? Second, has good seed been Sc
cured? And third, will time and nipple
ments at command allow the work to be
well done2 If either one of the three
queries cannot be answered emphatically
III the Affirmative the project should be at
once abandoned
Badly Worn soil cannot be made suitable
for wheat unless put through process of
renovation requiring years of time, and
old land unless uncOmnonly rich i'll the
requisite ingredients, should not be used;
indeed, we would seldom put wheat upon
any field after the second or third plough
ing from the turf We have always had
better luck putting in the grain between
the rows of corn with cultiyator on land
bat once or twice plonghed than upon soil
that had been kept under the plough three
or four years and abundantly manured.
ON clay soil particularly there appears to
be need Of the dccaying turf, or other
vegetable matter TO keep the earth from
packing and at the same time give material
for the roots of the plant to lay hold of and
feed upon.
After making the right selection Of land,
the next thing is to put it into proper con
dition Simply ploughing and brushing
over with the harrow will not answer, I'M
less upon loan that is perfectly free from
Jumps, The ground should be ploughed,
narrowed and worked with clod crllsher
until 10 is perfectly mellow. This labor
pays because less seed is required, and a
good catch assured. Where oat OF barley
,tubble is ploughed under with an after
growth, or Il crop OF weeds and grass
turned but one ploughing should be given
and that one deep and the burrows care
fully laid \, to seed use whatever
variety has proven most productive and
certain in any special locality; and use
the very best Of thai variety.
After the grain has been put in another
and very important step is to give perfect
VI ~ ti'tt til' 't'iH w " tttNl ttli ~
where stand upon the surface in Il very
wet time This is a matter of much more
Importance than generally conceded.
As to manures for wheat, we are not a
strong advocate of any, believing as be
fore limited that where soil has become so
much worn as not to produce this grain
without special aid, il should moi be de-
voted to it. No manure has Yet been used
that fully supplies the primitive clements,
but the nearest we come TO it is decom-
posed sod and to have this always in wheat
land, the field must be stocked down as
soon as the decaying turf disappears
and ploughed again when new sod has
been formed. Where soil is partially
worn, and Yet sufficiently strong to grow
u fair crop Of wheat, manure may be ap
piled proiitably, perhaps. bat it should be-
Well rotted and kept near the surface.
TOh0 Farmer.