Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1879-05-03
CELEBRATING WHEAT.

CUATnVATzNG WHEAT.
Last Summer good deal of interest
was excited in our county by the publica-
ton of report in our columns, of
visit to the farm OF Mr. Levi w. Croft,
in Lancaster county, Pa, by several OF
eur citizens Who went 10 See his fields
Of cultivated wheat, which were then
the subject of discussion. Tha. was the
second wear in which Mr.. Croft had
tried the new system of drilling wheat
in rows, leaving intermediate space
enough fol blowing in the Spring, which
operation was twice pertormed-once
early and the second time after the
stalks are we'll grown.
The result of MIR Groff"s experiments
were given in our columns as fully as
We could obtain them, but they were
not very detailed or satisfactory, althe'
Mr.. Croft claimed that, as was the case
the wear before, his cultivated wheat
had produced much larger percentage
OF grain than any wheat scwu in the old
way, in that section.
Among those who went from this
county TO see the wheat of Mr.. Croft
growing, was the Hon. Nm. T. Hami!-
ion, who was net sufficiently impressed,
il would seem, to try that particular
mode OH either Of his farms, but in
stead, has resortcd 10 the system OF har-
rowing the growing crop i'll the Spring,
which he had tiled the year before and
WAS much pleased with, and ot which
we gave an account last week.
Afr. Levi w. Croft, however, has not
lv any means abandoned his system,and
Is IMPRESSED with the idea that the plow-
mo a. wheat is the mode which will he
universally adopted hy all good farmers
and viii make the cultivation of wheat,
entirely rcmuncratiyc, at dollar per
hushtl. Ia tie Chamb.rsburg Spirit,
We lind an cutome OF some remarks by
Mr.. Groa,, reported in the proceedings
of the Lancaster County Agricultural
Society, in response to the question:
"With land AID labor at present prices,
can wheat be raised at one dollar per
hu~hei?' lie maintained that 1t couId
by the adoption of his system, which he
assumes will produce 40 bushels 10 The
acre with great certainty. This he did
not thir.k st all unreasonable, but from
lis estimate NOT only Of the value Of
land, but of the appliances used, his re-
marks ran only apply tOthc first quality
of soil aui most elaborate culIivalion.--
Ills estimate oil the cost OF raising an
acre OF wheat was as follows: Interest
ON one acre Of land at $50, $9;taXrS,50
cents; blowing ard narrowing, $3.50;
500 pounds raw bone, at $50 per ton,
$50: - bushels seed, %l.50: drilling
tae seed, - cents; cUltiva,iag twice IN
;ha spring, ~ 20; harvesting and thrash
ing. 81 30. Against this he placed The
rr0luct Of the acre at 40 bushels, which
viii bring, selling the straw, $40 iea''
mo profit Of 520.s0.
This estimate, which applies 10 Lar
caster couniy farm costing $l5o per
..cre and cultivated accordingly, cann"t
h., regarded as an examplar for our
county: aud we give it, not SO much
with i view to its application, here, as
for The purpose at calling attention 10
the subj CT Of cultivation, whether with
ths r!ow or harrow, of this great staple
r.oduc. of our country.
Aud, hy way ofarriSing at tho truth,
il is prcurr to add that Mr.. Croft mode
was no: entirely accepted rs the proper
one Ly hia neighburs. According 10
the report Of proceedings OF the Society,
Mr.. Eagle, while ooncedirg that figures
would not liz, if Mr.. Groffs conclusions
were correct, lie thought the 40 bush
els estimate high, but not TOO high, and
the calculation fair. But still he differed
from Mr. Croft when the latter stated
Iha, his wheat stood better III conse-
ouence Of cultivation. Mr.. EngIe
,honrht il was because cit was sowed
farther apart which does not place the
matter il! as clear light rs the reader
world like to have it, for the whole
point Of caltiyaling wheat with thePIow
tlrpcnds upon sowing it in lines sum
ciru,ly far apart tor tho passage OF tie
plow.
This Whole subject is one Of great IN
tercst, aud IS tie cultivation OF wheat.
whether bv "harrowinG" or blowing
it in the Spring, is likely "a be general
" discussed, and, perhaps, generally
adopted, anything reia'i"S ~ "'"''
OF interest 70 the great body OF our read
crs.
Yesterday we met Mr.. Jos. Ernst,
whose farm adjoins Montpelier and the
Dodge place in Clearsprin9 District,
aud he tells US that the growing wheat
looks better there than about either
Wiliamsport ard IIagerstown. Two
years ago Mr.. Ernst cultivated part OF
a field with the harrow, and raised he is
satisfied from TO Z bushels more on 1t
than on any other portion OF his ground.
This year he drilled an acre in rows
donb,e the usual distance from each other
and has cultivated it with the harrow.
and it is by far the best on his farm
lie says it locks observation-disclosures
torn Waii
Dangerous TOrpor.
rr..,or or ;uoctiyitv of the kidneys II