The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1880-09-30
Preparation OF Land for Wheat.

I have given this subject much at
tention for several years, and careful
observation and experiment have caused
me to change many of my former the
cries and practices with regard to
wheat growing. Twill say nothing now
on the general practices of farmers in
preparing their land for wheat, but will
give briefly a few hints gathered from
my own experience.
Old or worn land should be plowed
deep-new or rich land shallow.
have found a light coat of any kind Of
manure applied to old land of great
value. Only straw-stiffening manures
can be used to advantage on new land.
Heavy crops of green manures should
never be plowed under just before SOW
ing, because its fermentation is death
to the young wheat plant, and it will
also prevent the firming of the soil,
which is absolutely necessary in wheat
land.
The land must be thoroughly worked
down before the seed is put in. 1t has
been positively demonstrated in hun
dreds of instances that the wheat plant
will not thrive on rough, trashy, or half
worked land. If the land is very dry
it must be narrowed, rolled and har-
rowed again, until every clod is crushed
and the sod torn to atoms. some
times use clod crusher made of two
poles, six to ten inches in diameter
and twelve to sixteen feet long, fast
ened close together with three or four
cross pieces. With team hitched to
each end of this, a man can often do
more effective work than with roller
and harrows. Should the land be
damp it can generally be got into prop
er condition with the harrow alone.
The soil should be loose and fine as pow
der three inches deep, and firm and
solid beneath that.
If the land is properly prepared, the
point of the drill will run about two
and half or three inches deep, and as
smooth and steady as a hot knife
through butter. The little ridges on
each side of the drill-mark are the chief
protection of the plant against being
thrown out by repeated freezing and
thawing in winter; consequently great
care should be taken not to run any
thing over the land alter the drill that
will crush or level them down. have
seen wheat that was narrowed after
being drilled that harvested only six
bushels per acre; when closed alongside
of it was another piece, drilled at the
same time, that yielded twenty-six
bushels per acre.
Three years ago a great deal of wheat
was killed bv the severest weather we
have ever known. A hard freeze of a
few days was followed by thaw, and
then rain, which was followed by an
other hard freeze. This was repeated
seven or eight times in succession. All
wheat sown broadcast. and that drilled
ON rough trashy ground was thrown and
washed entirely out and killed. Wheat
drilled on well-prepared land was
raised over half an inch; but being in
the little hollows-the drill-marks-
and the land being mellow and free
from trash, the rains would wash the
earth down upon the exposed roots, and
though we supposed it would be ruined,
it weathered the storm and yielded
eighteen bushels per acre.
Long experience with wheat and
close observation has taught me: l.
That no coarse or heavy green manures
can be used to advantage on wheat, I'M
less applied and plowed under two or
three months before seeding-time: 2.
That fine concentrated manures applied
on old land at the time of seeding will
greatly increase the yield and quality,
and prove a good investment; 3. That
it is better to sow wheat late, or not
aouy r. Of oil than tn GOV If IN rourh
trashy or unprepared land; 4. That with
thorough preparation of land, careful
selection and cleaning of seed, and
proper and seasonable sowing, a good
variety of wheat will not dcteriorate in
quality or quantity within ten years
time, and that it is one of the surcst
and best paving crops a farmer car
grOW.-GOr. Examiner and Chronicle.