Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1878-08-21
FARM AND FIRESIDE.
More Wheat 10 the Acre.

That the ten, fifteen, and even thirty
bushel wheat-crops are not the largest
that any good wheat-soil is capable o.
producing, is fact patent to every in-
telhgent farmer; yet thousands go on
raising these comparatively Improbable
crops, even though the means Is at hand
for largely increasing them. 1t is really
quite within the possibilities Ofany farm
suitable for raising wheat at all, to grow
an average crop of over 80 bushels per
acre; and 40, so, and even GO bushels
may reasonably be expected under prop
er culture. Such crops are rather the
rule than the exception on good Eng
fish wheat farms, but are quite rare in
this country.
The cost of fitting the soil, Of seed,
sowing, interest on the land, and the
number and value of the stock and i'm
plements required are the same fer a
small as for large crop and the cost
ofharvesting is but little more in the
latter case. So that the difference be-
tween a 10 aud 30 bushel crop is near
ly all profit. But how shall this extra
20 bushels profit per acre be gained?
By the use Of sufficient manure, to make
the increase. The fact that extra ma
nuring makes an addition to the crop
which IS nearly all profit, is fact sell
dom realized by farmers but such is
the case, as most will admit, after con-
sidering the above statements. The
spreading Of SIX cords Of stable manure
en- two acres Of land may net produce
crop which will more than pay the eX-
penses Ofits production put the same
manure on one acre. and the chances nre
that just as much wheat will be harvest
cd, and at little more than halfthe cost.
For the generality Of farmers it would
be safe rule to use what stable ma
nure they have on half the area it is
now applied to. But 10 get the largest
return from the farm, and to utilize
every acre, Is a laudable ambition OF
every good farmer. To ds this, he can
not depend-as many dO-On the nat
ural fertility Of the soil, or on stable
manure but he must resort to artificial
fertilizers, which can now be bought
with safety Of reliable dealers, with rea-
sonable certainty Of getting what is
bargained for. This piecing out Of the
farm and soil resources by use Of honest
manufactured manures is working a
revolution in American agriculture and
in no department may it be better con-
sidered than in grain farming. In the
use Of these fertilizers, however, the
same rule applies as with stable manure;
that while certain small amount per
acre may only produce a crop large
enough to pay expenses, half as much
more may cause a handsome preiit.-
We would not advise, however, that
novice IN the use Of fertilizers should 90
to large expense at first, but recon-
mend small beginnings, though bold
ness may perhaps lead TO a surprising
success. When practicable, the farmer
may make good wheat manure of 800
lbs. Of superphosphate Of lime contain
ing ammonia &. C., made Of fresh bone),
or the same amount Of fine bone COM
posted for three months this for use
on an acre. Apply also-not mixing
the two-all the unleached wood-ashes
that can be got. An occasional liberal
dressing OF lime will improve wheat land
which is already rich in organic mater.
But to grow wheat at profit, the
question Of fertility is not the only point
to be considered. In all The older
States, wheat-growing, to be successful,
requires the best kind Of farming. The
best seed must be selected for with
poor seed, the best culture practlsed can
not produce good crop. The variety
chosen should be both prolific and hardy.
The soil, as a rule, should be a fine clay
loan, well-drained, and contain a fair
proportion Of thoroughly decemposed
organic matter. The blowing should
be only 6 or inches doep, the soil thor
oughly palyerized and compact, with
all the clods on the surface the seed
drilled in carly, and rolled, and the rows
far enough apart to admit Of several
Civilizations. Then, with a good season.
and comparative freedom from insects
and disease, and the use Of proper i'm
plements in harvesting. a large and
profitable crop may be expected. In
the virgin soils Of the extreme West,
rembnerat.ye crops may perhaps still
be raised by the cid careless methods.
but the time is close at hand when all
these conditions will apply there as well
as IN the older sections of the country.
How 30 Get Fcul AIr eat OF a Well, and
Why ID Gets There,