The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1879-02-18
WHEAT oULTURE-BY HON. GEO. A. SMITH
OF ROMERREI


or SOMERSET.
IL is with extreme reluctance / at
tempt 10 address the farmers OF Hills
dale county on the very important sub
iect OF wheat culture" subject that
his vitality interested the husband
man from the earliest days of antiquity
down TO the present time. A cerial,
more than all others combined. has a
relative greater value in its being used
as the principal article of food for the
maintenance of the human race.
Wherever it can be successfully cul-
tivated it takes leading place in the
commefce and industries OF that people
with our own nation and State-this is
prominently so.
The value of this product raised in
the United States, for the year 1877,
was 1894, ,675, ,779; Of which IA, 10000
bushels was exported TO foreign coun-
tries. In our own State Of Michigan,
during the same year, the crop was 21,-
$50. 900 bushels, of which the exported
value was over Sl5, ,000.0 The past
year has been one without precedent
in the bountifulness OF our harvest. 1t
is estimated that the wheat crop will
exceed 80. 900. 900 bushels, and that the
estimated value OF its export will APP
proximate nearly as much as all other
products exported from tie State.
To the intelligent farmers 1 cannot
expect to say anything new regarding
the cultivation Of this important staple.
Since the days when our first parents
were driven from the garden OF Eden
aud sentenced TO "eat his bread by the
sweat OF his face" science and skill
have been taxed, aided by experience
and observation, 10 secure the greatest
results for bis labor will not attempt
to dictate any particular mode or pro-
cess whereby good crop would be as
sured, for so much depends upon the
climate, soil and contingencies Of fail
ure, Of which the wheat crop is more
liable than any other grain on the
farm; seemingly beset by enemies from
the time ID is planted till secured in
the grainery, and then the fear of
thieves or depreciation in value, our
hard earned labor will go unrewarded.
There are several REQUESTS necessary
wheat. First, the soil, OF which there
is none better or surer in the United
States than the opening lands Of
Southern Michigan, for the raising OF
white winter wheat. NEXT a good team
and plow, with a man TO manage them;
aud third. good seed 10 plant. These
are all necessary 10 insure success, q
failure OF either would very likely be
ruinous 10 the whole.
The most common way OF the present
day, and it seems the most ancient 0or
we read in holy writ of the "breaking
Of fallow ground, 10 by summer-fal-
low; this is the most expensive az ii re-
quired the use OF the land for longer
time. yet by many intelligent farmers
is pronounced the only true way to in-
sure . good crop OF wheat. My own
plan for working fsllow is this: Break
up the ground in June as soon after
planting corn as may be, to get il done
before the summer drouth sets in, IL
there was no contingency of drouth.
would prefer to not have it done before
the first OF July. Plow the ground net
less than seven inches deep; il sod, use
iointer, and roll il well under. And
now about plowing would say a word
right here. that more depends upon
good plowing 10 insure a good crop
than any other one thing. Some farm
ers may have good land but their crops
arc generally poor, and good ones the
exceptions; they wonder why their
neighbors have such large yield and
theirs go light. But take look at their
ploving and il explains the whole
safw Ia II
my fallow is 10 have il done well, the
ground thoroughly turned over, to have
no baulks or hard places left, for they
will surely show themselves the next
summer in the thin aud stunted wheat.
And then another thing farmers, don't
expect your men or boys to do good
work at blowing unless you give them
a good team and plow. A horse weigh
ing less than twelve hundred pounds
has no business drawing a plow. And
plows, there are plenty OF good ones
these days; make your selection Of such
q one as best adapted for your soil.
Having furnished these expect your
work 20 be we'll done, il not, have II
stopped right then and there. No af
ter work can make good the work. No
season, however favorable can secure
you full crop il the main work, the
blowing, is poorly done.
After blowing, the fallow should be
exposed TO the action Of the atmos
phere, with an occasional dragging.
until about the middle OF August, then
the cultivator should be put to work
thoroughly string the soil as deep as
can be without bringing TO the furface
the sod that was plowed under IN
breaking. Do not be afraid of working
ID too much, the more the better, until
il is time 10 SOW. And now come the
very important question: When is the
right time? With myself would not
have il done at such time as would
be called either early or late; my gen.
eral aim is to commence as near the
10Th OF September as may be, and fin
ish it as soon as can. IL selecting my
own time I could SOW my wheat just
when wanted TO, il would be the 18th
day of September every year. i use a
tooth drill for sowing, and / consider
the drill one of the best tools invented |
to aid the farmer in raising wheat. j
attribute much Of my own success TO
its use. and in a measure am enabled !
to overcome the rayages Of the Hessisn
Ay and the killing blasts Of winter.
Good seed is another important |
item. 1t is good plan TO change from |
one locality to another. Wheat Is a |
peculiar grain. One variety does not !
last but few years before il seems 10 |
fail aud we have 10 look for another |
kind. Who OF us old farmers does not !
remember the beautiful Flint and |
Souls wheat We used 10 raise here in
Michigan. There was no complaint
then from millers Of these not making
good -four. IL we SOW poor seed we
expect poor wheat. III We SOW oolkle
and chess we will surely reap the same.
But would not be understood 10 i'm
ply that we will surely reap as good as
we SOW, for / happened to be one OF
those believing that wheat will turn to
chess, how or why we cannot tell, and
in making this admission sm aware OF
treading on delicate ground that has
been worn out with argument, and no
nearer solution than when first begun.
There are some things in nature that
cannot be explained. Even the profess
sor, with all his study, research and
learning, cannot tell you ''how the
seed springs mp and grow, producing
! first the blade, then the ear, then the
full corn in the ear" OF with ell his
skill in chemistry and analysis, cannot
tell us how plaster acts as fertilizer.