The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1878-09-12
Vbe 9arn1.
Farm Work for September.
RYE.

liable crop, if it has not already
been sown should be got in as soon
as possible, as we think no gram
receives more benefit from being
sown early than rye. If it is sown
early on good light soil, well pre-
pared and fertilized with a n
that has plenty of ammonia, phos-
phoric acid, potash and magnesia
in it, the farmer may reasonably
expect a good occasional pasture for
his sheep and young stock in win
ter and early spring, 20 to 30 bush
els of grain and l to tons oil
straw worth rs much as ordinary
timothy hay, if it be neatly tied IN
bundles after being thrashcd with
the fail, and sent to market. The
grain usually brings from 80 to so
cents a bushel, but is worth more
if kept at home, ground into meal
and fed with cut provcndcr to
stock. In this way 1T is perhaps
the richest and most economical
feed that is grown on the farm for
all animals, especially for fattenlng
cattle.
WHEAT SEEDING AND CULTIVATION.
The last of this month OF before
the 10Th of October the wheat
should be sown, if Il full crop be
expected. There are several es-
sential matters connected with
sowing wheat, to which we wish to
call attention. We are satisfied
that wheat should be sown early
enough to make a good root growth
before winter. 1t should be sown
on well prepared land, as nea as
possible two inches deep, and we
prefer drilling decidedly. If the
Ian d be a light soil we should roll
it after the wheat was sOwn. The
best ground for this crop is a clover
fallow. The land should be evenly
plowed, and to the depth of 3 or
inches, at least deep enough to
Ove well, by a nicely turned fur
row., the clover and other vegeta-
ton. This blowing should be done
in time to have the vegetable mat
ter decomposed before seeding time.
Directly after blowing we should
roll with a heavy roller to break
clods and compress the earth to
produce rapid decomposition. After
this we would advise cross-plowlng
to intermiX the humus and top
and bottom soils, then harrow level,
at the same time SOW three hun
drcd pounds of some good fertlll-
ger per acre, if the wheat is to be
wi brOadcast-if to be drilled,
the fertilizer and grass seed could
be sOwn with the wheat. We are
sure that too little attention is gen
orally paid to the preparation OF
the land for the reception of the
seed.
Whenever we find Il great yield
of wheat, we find that the land was
well prepared. In England where
great yields per acre have beer
produced, the following was wei
done. Notwithstanding their plows
are inferior to ours, we do not pillow
as well as they do. AL stiff soil:
should be committed, and brought
into fine filth by blowing and har
narrowing. Wheat delights in
clean well worked up bed and thel
compressed by the roller. The re
peated failure in the wheat crop i
no doubt owing in many cases t.
the slovenly way it was put in. l
is worse than folly to SOW wheat Of
poor land, badly prepared, and eX
pect a good crop, however favora
bic the season NAY be. This plant
if well supported by proper cultur
and proper food in the soil, seem
to have in its vigor full power t
resist attacks of fly, rust, etc. Blu
when it is left helpless and i
stinted in its food or hindered b
bad culture from utilizing wha
there is in the soil, it becomes !;
once a prey to all enemies-the fl
especially avoids the vigoror
plants and makes a lodgemel
among the more tender and feebl
stalks. BY early sowing, and wit
early varieties, the rust may |
avoided.
The idea of working two or thrt
times in early spring, the whe;
crop Is becoming very popula
There are machines for workir
wheat between the drills, but it h
been found that the hand hoeir
two or three times before the whe
begins to head is most e~fflcaciou
An excellent substitute is to use Il
drill for sowing, removing or sto
ping up each alternate tooth
pocket in the drill, and have
attachment to the drill for hoein
Among many statements as to t
efficacy of cultivating wheat as o
would corn. to the manifest /