The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1879-09-12
F0r The EgiS 6 MtelHgeRcer.
Wheat Seeding.

Hartford county seems to be especially for
tunate in having Farmers Club composed
of the most intelligent, learned and enterpris-
ing of her citizens and cultivators. The Deer
Creek Farmers Club is one that is calculated
to have manifestly beneficial effect upon the
farming interest, both at home and abroad
The facts, as stated by the several members,
respecting the preparation of the ground for
wheat, the use of grass lime, bone dust and
fertilizers the time of sowing the grain the
amount and the fly all show plainly close
investigation into the rationale and reason of
things, and prove that farmers need not be
whit behind others in the scientific study of
Nature. Indeed, it is their special calling ito
do and see the works" and not to be "hearers
only" The discussions of this club are well
worthy of the closest scrutiny, and ought to
be read and re-read by every farmer who has
so little as ten acres to put in wheat crop.
| was particularly interested in the remarks
of the several members of the club on Wheat
Culture, as contained in The kEgss of the Sth
ofAugust last. On reading them, three things
struck me very forcibly, namely, the seed
wheat, the fly and the preparation of the seed
bed.
One gentleman says: Zone bushel and
a-half of seed to the acre is enough, anless the
seed has been injured IN tarestsng."
Thissuggests question ofsomeimportance,
~ Houlu 5CClll, WHGbllCl tuC pTeSCHL DTuC-
tice of threshing the wheat crop out so early,
land even that portion of it designed for seed
included,) only a few weeks after reaping and
before the grain has become sufficiently har-
dened an injury is not inflicted upon the ten
der germ to that extent that much of the grain,
when seeded does not sprout at all, and that
n large per centage of that which does sprout
forms weak roots, too feeble to accumulate
many fibres, becoming fit subjects for the fly
and hardly able to endure the frosts of winter,
thus leaving a diminished part of the one and
a-half bushels to terminate and occupy the
ground.
One gentleman advises not to cut the wheat
intended for seed until it is entirely ripe-cer-
tainly a wise plan, and one adhered to years
ago with marked success, when the grain was
threshed out in August or even in September.
May not this early threshing have some effect
upon the succeeding crop?
In order to arrive at some conclusion re-
specting thought of this kind, will you allow
me to propose that one or more of your enter
prising farmers make test of this matter by
taking samples of100 grains of wheat threshed
out at different times from the middle of July
to the middle of September, and trying them
in glasses, as is usually done, only noting more
closely the per centage of unsprouted grains,
also the character, strength and length of the
growing roots? This may give, perhaps,
remote indication of the reason for the attack
of the fly occurring after the various times of
seeding. If in making these experiments, the
glasses containing the sprouting grains are
placed in various parts ofthe field to be seeded,
or on the borders of it, either on the ground,
land even little under the ground, } at height
of one, two or three feet from the ground, and
protected from the rains, daily inspection
may discover some revelations respecting the
times and modes of attack of this small but
destructive insect, called the fly. Say not,
farmers, experiments like these will give too
much trouble. The detection and destruction
ofthcily is important to yourselves and others
of our State
Maryland lands are capable of producing
from twenty to fifty bushels of wheat TO the
acre; and if only the operations of the fly can
be stopped much good will be done. Besides,
carefully recorded facts of the kind suggested
will the more readily invite to the field the en-
thusiastic investigators in our State, who not
contented with looking at the mere surface of
things are penetrating into Natures deepest
secrets. The learned Fellows of the Johns
Hopkins University and of the Maryland
Academy of Science will scarcely he satisfied
with searching into that portion of Natures
treasure house comprised within the waters
of the noble Chesapeake; but they will doubt
less in process of time direct their lifc-un-
1olulng instruments upon the plantS anu AM
mails ofthe land; and would surely not pass by
the bread-plant, the staff of life, and the little
animal which has so long been found to be its
most serious enemy. Then let farmers think,
reflect, experiment, and be ever ready to in
crease the stock of products which are intend
ed to sustain the life of man, by careful and
iudicious study ms well as by bodily or
mechanical labor.
The preparation of the seed-bed is a most
interesting, important and extensive subject;
but, for the present, it had best be left to the
practical idea of experienced cultivators.
T H. O.