Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1874-11-11
RAISING. WHEAT.

On this subject two thinL~ were con~id-
cred specially important. drainage. and
keeping the manure that is applied at the
surface. Science Teaches this and practice,
confirms it. UnIrrlr;tine lln |. if clay.
is often more or les wet. Wherever this
is the case the frost in the spring and
also during the winter. open. will lift il.
throwing out thus yearly Il lnryr amount
of the grain, in some Years seriously affect
ing the crop. This we have reported OF
some sections every year II i on clay
soil principally that thi, takes place. and
always whore undrainrd or poor v drained
A thorough y ron, (!r:.inrD soil will
never have wheat life ont. brcaI>c there
is not water enough for the frost to act
upon.
To bury the manure (by ploughiny
undcr), and put the wheat on the top. on
the raw or unmAnurcd soil. i in effect not
to manure ut all, so far ~ the start of the
crop is concerned; and the start has much
to do with success. Then the manure
buried will lose some of it, substance. and
the best part-thr nitric acid for which
the soil has no attraction, Each rain takes
some of this from the soil and the more
readily, as it is already we'll on it, WAY
being put down 10y the plough. The point
is to have it at the surface. whore the grain
can ut once feed upon it, and n the roots
extend downward in their Growth, they
keep pace with the sinking mrtrrill. Thus.
if not too much is applied. most if not all
of this will he slvcl. Hence frrqIcmt and
somewhat LIGHT minurn~ i most profit
able. There are other elements besidrs
the nitrates-lmc. for in>tancc-that are.
fugitive i'll their character. To harrow in
manure with the grain. or to apply it after
wards. finely and evenly distributed. i tn.
true doctrine. In this way and with
dra mage, vou are pretty sure of 4 GOOD
crop, providing always You have land III a
mellow condition, Il point insisted upon.
and Justly. III the discussion: for the plant
receives its nourl>hmcnt. not alone from
water holding it III solution. but takes it
also directly from the soil. the roots hay ng
that power his they cannot do success
fully if the contact is >Ii~ht. as in the cast
of coarse, lumpv soils. Fine, compact soil.
mot hard hurgng the roots closely
throughout. is what is wanted. especially
for wheat, and no soil does this 80 we'll II,
IA pulverized. drained clay soil, Such Il
soil is also lasting, an holds manure well.
And here let me make a point: Ii is well
to use NE chanictl means to line tie soil.
in order to reduce the cIolS. 1t however
helps the growth of the crop but little, as
it only reduces the lar@e humps to small
ones. all ;tlike-Of little. thouyh some 1t.
to the plant. What is held by these humps
is generally locked away from tn plant
You want 4 fine. di>ntegratcd condition OF
the soil. You have to rely upon the clr-
ments mainly to rive YOU this; the fro>t>
of winter, 1t is well known. are an l,Ivan-
tage.as they reach the minute PARTICLES, scl
arating and comminutinr them. So tn.
sun, III connection with MOISTURE lroduc, :
much the same results. Hence the mel
lowing effect Of a fall w 'Ihctwo to~eth-
er-ploughing in the fall and working TIL,
soil the following >ummcr-will reclaim
almost any soil. The clod crusher and
harrow will never do it.