The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1878-08-29
Following and Sowing Wheat.

paratory to sowing winter wheat seem
to think it necessary to pillow the land
deeper than heretofore just before SOW
ing. This is all wrong. The object of
summer following is, first, to thor
oughly clean the ground; second, to
leave the soil free to the action of the
sun and rain as means of ameliorat-
ing the soil; and third, to bring the
land into a state of fine filth. The very
action of deep blowing just before SOW
ing would naturally counteract in a
great measure all three of these means,
for increasing fertility, and at the same
time leave deep loose bed of earth,
one of the worst possible conditions for
success.
While the wheat crop requires a fine
filth as to the surface, the tirmer the
lower strata is naturally, however deep
the original blowing, the better. Not
that we mean that the sub stratum of
soil should be hard and impervious. but
firm and compact as to its texture.
Therefore the first blowing given should
be deeper than that following. The
same rule will apply to stubble lands
plowed Immediately after the harvest.
Give the deepest blowing as soon as
possible after harvest, and subsequent
ly, until the wheat is sown, it is better
that only surface cultivation be given
to subdue weeds. In this we do not
advocate sowing wheat after wheat, or
upon stubble. Nevertheless it is done
to a very considerable extent upon the
new lands of the West, and each farm
er must judge of the advisability of this
for himself.
Where regular summer fallow is
given from spring until sowing time, it
is far better that some crop be sown on
the land at the firstplowing to be turned
under. A naked fallow is not the best
means of enriching the soil, since
shaded ground not only acquires fertil-
ity faster than naked soil, but the crops
turned under also return the elements
of plant growth to the soil in most
soluble state.
When crop has been raised on sod
that it is not advisable to disturb, we
have known good results from skim
ming and narrowing the surface to in
duce the weeds to start, and subse-
quently working the surface to a good
filth. If the sod be turned up it should
be thoroughly compacted again after
narrowing fine, by rolling. When
wheat is to be sown among standing
corn, the land being clean, we have al
ways had the best success from sowing
in August. Thus the corn. having been
husked ON the hill. the stalks protect
the wheat during the winter, and being
cut close to the ground in the spring,
seldom interfere with harvesting. As
rule, on new lands, crops are thus
raised.
If the soil for wheat requires manure,
it is better that it be applied as compost,
or at least in as fine a state as possible
after the first blowing, and narrowed
in. The subsequent working of the
soil will keep it just where it Is wanted
to give the young wheat start. From
five to ten loads per acre will thus in.
sure good crop, SO far as fertility is
concerned, even on poor land If arti
fetal fertilizers are used, it is better
that they be applied at the time of drill
ing, or, if the wheat is sown broadcast
to be sowed at the same time and har
rowed in.
In this connection it may not bt
amiss to say word upon the fall anc
late summer blowing. Many person.
are deferred from blowing because a
the season Immediately following har
vest the soil is 80 dry that an ordinary
team finds it hard work to pillow. Dt
not wait. Put on three horses and q,
ahead. When the rains come he sol
will mellow, and if it lie until the fol
lowing spring without replowing i
will be found far softer and more fri
able than the same land plowed late il
the fail, when perhaps the soil is we
and sticky. Flowing the soil when we
is not so ruinous in the late autumn a
in the spring, yet such soils as are liza
BILE to bake will usually show the evi
results arising therefrom, even after
winters freezing and thawing.-Prai
RE Farmer.