Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1875-09-24
farln anu Auusebum,
Preparation of Wheat Land.

1t is, we believe, universally admitted
that a good clover lay is the best prepare
ton for a wheat crop. The amount of
nitrogen in the leaf, which, from its broad
development, is greater than any other Of
the grass family, is very largely shownsby
all analyses, but it is hardly feyceeded. BY
the quantity of the same valuable feftiliz-
ing ingredient which is possessed by the
roots of the plants. The sod should have
been turned under the first of last month,
which would have given more time for
decomposition before sowing the wheat.
But if this has not been done, and the plow-
ing is now taking place, or just before the
wheat is sown, time will be required, pro-
badly a full month, before any real benefit
can occur to the growing wheat. Lime,
where required, more especially if it is
air-slaked, should be sown on the clover
before turning it under, which materially
assists in fastening decomposition, and if
blowing has been deferred until near seed
ing time it will be found very advantage
Gus. A good healthy growth in the fall,
taking one year with another, will be gen
orally found as most essential to success in
wheat growing, and the farmer cannot take
too much pains in trying to secure this
growth by blowing his field well, and
thoroughly pulverizing it with the har-
row and the roller, the latter implement a
most useful one in this process, and entire
ly too much neglected by the most of our
farmers.
At one of the grange meetings at the
West the discussion turned on the prepare
ton of the wheat ground, and the results
of the experience of number of the far
mers present are worth giving; the lati-
tude must be considered, which may make
some difference in their suggestions to
those in this vicinity.
J. B. Stephenson gave his system, which
is: IF the summer fallows, he plows the
ground directly after complaining, then
at leisure times harrows and cultivates up
to the time for seeding, which is the 18th
of September. If he plows the fallow the
second time, he does it shallow; but his
usual practice is to pillow the sward for
corn, SOW oats or barley after the corn,
then, as soon as the field is cleared of the
oat or barley crop, pillow deeply and har-
the ground rest until few days before
seeding time, so as to allow time for the
shelled oats or barley to come up. Then
liz hlo IL We'll Will CultlfdtOI duet lOiiCi
and drills about six pecks per acre, be-
heves the roller as essential upon some
soils, in the proper preparation of the
ground for wheat, as the harrow or cult
vator; sells when he can get the best price.
Captain Fl. r. Case said that his system
is about the same. He likes especially to
have his wheat ground plowed deeply and
well prepared, but sows earlier. He sows
as soon as practicable after the first OF
September; thinks this earlier sowing
much safer in the long run than late SOW
ing. Has raised in instances good crops
of wheat sowed in October; drills about
six pecks per acre. Some years ago he
kept an account of the expense of raising
wheat and found that it cost him about
fifty cents per bushel to put it in his gra-
nary, making no allowance for wearing of
tools, or interest on land investment. He
markets his crops usually in February, if
the price is satisfactory, for then his teams
are at liberty. Would not neglect or de-
lay the putting in of crop for the sake
of marketing, unless in exceptional in
stances.
Don Richards said that some years the
insects injured wheat, if sown as early as
the first of September. He lost his own
crops sometimes by insects, by sowing too
carly; drills about six pecks per acre upon
Apared ground markets when he has
Fly from other farm work to attend to
ellis often in February when the mar