Smyrna times., 1878-08-14
.Al2"ScWIIaSzUZ.
Preparing far Wheat.

Our new method of drilling in wheat,
saws the Peninsolar Ne,VS, has been found by
repeated trials to be far superior to the
ordinary method. That is drilling it in
both directions, five pecks to the acre each
time. This method has been tried the last
season by one of our most careful farmers,
and he found the increase on this acre to
be equal to one-sixth more. He will this
year drill his whole crop in this manner.
But, we have more confidence in the more
complete success in wheat growing by drill
ing the grain only through every other
spout of the drill, and only three pecks to
the acre, and then cultvating it carefully |
and thoroughly in the spring. In every |
case where this has been fairly tried it has |
proved to be remarkably successful. Our
present method did well enough for the |
early days of agriculture when land and |
food were plenty and cheap, but as popula- |
ton increases and land grows more valua |
BILE new methods must be applied to make |
the crop paying one. This is the condi- |
ton of the wheat growing business on the
Peninsula now. 1t does not pay to grow
the crop and we must manage to largely
increase the product to the given area or
fail entirely in the business. The two
methods above mentioned have more prom
is in them than anything else that has
been suggested, and we commend them to
the careful consideration of our enterpri-
e. G,.A ha
largely adopted this season, as it was tried
sufficiently last season to satisfy all that it
added largely to the product; but we be.
lieye the latter is the most valuable and
should be generally tried this season. We
hope that many of our wheat growers will
try at least one acre in cultivation by the
latter method, and that they will thorough
ly harrow the crop next spring at least
three times, and report the result. We
must learn to grow more wheat per acre or
quit the business; and these methods are
the ones that promise to aid us in doing it.
Here is more that is published about the
success of Mr.. Croft, of Lancaster CO., Pa:
The New York Tribune, in its agricultural
department, having doubted the statements
as to the result of the cultivation of wheat
by Mr.. Croft, of Lancaster county, Pa, 60
bushels of wheat per acre, by sowing in
rows IL inches apart, and tilling with a cul-
tivator,'') the' Lancaster Farmer, in which
the reports of Mr.. Groff's cropping were
originally published, thus takes up the
question as to the reliability of the grower.
"If the Tribune had made the enquiry it
might have learned that Mr.. Levi. W.
Groff's location in our county is by no means
'indefnite,' and that he resides in the old
family mansion and on the very farm first
located by the celebrated Hans Croft, in
West Earl (then Early township, Lancaster
county Mr.. Groff's farm is located about
one and half miles norteast from Bare
vile, which is the nearest post-town."
The Farmer adds, that Mr.. Croft and his
son have been engaged in the cultivation
of wheat for some years, and last year it is
believed by cultivation alone they brought
the yield to more than double the yield of
the average crop of the county of Lancaster
and says: 1T is not pretended that the
cultivation Of wheat is yet fixed system
beyond any preadventure, but the results
thus far have proved it a successful expert
ment. In a season when, through favorable
circumstances, the crops are universally
good, the benefits resulting from cultiva-
ton may not be so apparent as they are in
seasons more unfriendly, and when, through
the manipulations of the soil, the growth of
wheat, as the growth of any other species OF
vegetation, may be stimulated and strength.
ened by cultivation. If we were to put corn,
potatoes, beans, cabbages or tomatoes into
the ground, cover them with little earth
and then let them take care of themselves
as is usually done with wheat, we should
gather a very unsatisfactory crop; but
through cultivation we cause them to per
feet themselves and yield abundantly. L
is difficult to determine by what known
law in vegetable physiology, wheat, or any
other cereal, should be deemed a specia
exception"
Whilst on the subject we will here ado
the result of visit to Mr.. Groff's farm, BY
certain farmers of Berks CO., Pa, which il
published in the Reading Eagle:
ezra z. Griesmere and Solomon Deturch
two Obey farmers, have just returned from
a trip to Lancaster county whittier they
went to look into the plan of cultiVatinl
wheat. The wheat is sown in rows fou
inches in width and eleven inches apart
giving sufficient room to run the cultivation
through in the spring of the year, very
much like hoe-harrowing corn. The cult
vator is a simple arrangement which i
attached to the drill and worked by TIVE
horses, who walk between the rows o
wheat. The wheat is worked in this wa,
just as soon as the frost leaves the grounC
and afterwards about the Goth of Apri
again, when the clover and timothy ar
sown. The results of cultivating whea
were G1 bushels and Is pounds to the acr
last year, and the promise the coming har
vest is in every respect as bright. TIL
straw is to feet inch high, and tn
heads from 4 to Al inches in length. MI
Gresmere thinks that without any exas
geration the yield of wheat will be forty
five bushels to the acre. The clover an
f.rufhv are also very fine, being muc
better than when sown under the preser
way. The farm visited by Messrs. CRIES.
mer and Deturch is owned and worked b
Levi w. Croft, near Bareville."
Professor johnson says: "Horn, ha
and wool, depend for their efficacy pr
cisely on the same principle as I'll