The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1874-03-21

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10 grow wheat successfully, thorough .
preparation u the ground IA necessary |
Tee yon plows iondyantagc, and plow
deep. II win pay IN the increase OF
your crop The deep blowing ana "lo-
4cpuont narrowing not only leaves lhc
Observation-Disclosures "Drlll'
but improves II by breaking up lho
clods, looscning the earth, permitting
easy growth and penetration OF the
roots, admitting light and air, ana has
tcl'ing the decomposition of manure
and elements of the soil into food Tor
the plants; besides leaving the ground
smooth for the use of the "Reaper." ii
farmers will study the nature OF the
wheat plant, they will more readily
understand what Is necessary TO culll-
vate II successfully, and be convinced
how important it is to attend to these
first steps. My experience leads me
to advise summer blowing in ground
designed for wheat. In putting III
your grain, by all means use "Drill;"
there is IA saving of time and labor,
saving of Seed and larger yield Sc
cured. In ordinary seasons the aver
age crop from broadcast seeding Is
from eighteen to twenty bushels to the
acre, while with drill it will average
from twenty-eight to thirty bushels.
In case of severe early winter, or
visit of that scourge, the grasshopper,
the former is likely half or wholly de-
stroyed; while the drilled wheat, by
virtue of its being sown at regular
and exact depth, and being properly
covered and protected from the wind,
birds and insects, is saved to repay the
labor and expense of the farmer.
In selecting your "Drill," buy those
that have the double force feed; the old
pattern of slide feed has about been
done away with, being very unreliable
in its sowing, and easily choked.
In selecting your reaper, rely some
what on the advice and experience of
your friends, and on the Judgement
and good standing of your dealers.
The firms who handle this class of
machinery are generally well in formed
as to what is the best, and where a
strong and reliable house will repre-
sent good machinery, at prices which
afford only a living profit, others will
handle an inferior grade of goods,
which can be sold at lower prices and
yet afford enormous profits. Cheap
is the most expensive in
the end. Deal with men who are le-
ultimate in the trade, who are willing
to guarantee their goods, and to keep
a supply of reapers on hand. An eX-
perience in the field for years, has
taught me that the rear cut reapers
are the most durable. The front cut
machines are worked with q loss of
power, the line ofdraught being through
the pole, which terminating back of the
cutter bar, has the action of pushing
instead of pulling the knife into the
grain. TO enumerate all the popular
machines would take much time, for
each have some merit. The machine
to buy is that which combines the most /
good points and has the tewest weak
ones. {
Select one that is built mostly of
iron and steel, and is well and strongly
made; in which you can be assured
the manufacturer put the best of ma
terial and workmanship. Many have
asked me the merits of the self-bind-
ing machines. While having no desire
to condemn these machines, or those
which carry their binders, yet it is my
belief that no two men can well bind
on a machine, when the yield of grain
is as large as twenty bushels to the
acre, and the machine cuts full swath.
Wheat, to be well stacked,
should be we'll bound, and
the binders on this class of machines :
have, so far as within my notice, been
obliged to slight their work, not being
able to keep up with the cutting. In
stacking grain, care should be taken to
avoid its heating. Stack between four
poles, and keep the middles we'll up I
from three and a half to four feet.
Don't stack with pole in center. u
Wheat should be stacked in from
eight to fifteen days after cutting, and
kept in stack from six to eight weeks.
This gives time fer the wheat to draw
strength from the straw while sweat
ing, and will leave the grain full and
heavy. Good grain, thus taken care
of, will make light, white flour, and
will bring the best market price.
In conclusion, / repeat, use care In
buying your machinery, In
trip through your country last
year, I met with qualities of
implements which were en-
tireiy without merit; but through
the oily tongue and persuasive argyll
ments of some clever salesman, and
the inducements of extended credits,
were coaxed into purchasing that
which, after u trial, was found to be
worthless.
JOSIAH HAZEN.
Barry, Illinois.
PcJ,pr, A rant Heath of the Pacific