The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1880-08-04
farm aud Gardem.
Thick or Thin Seeding for Wheat.
&C ENsILAGE' AGAIN.


We think the tendency now is to too
thin seeding of wheat by our farmers
We have Just received letter on this
subject from that distinguished English
farmer, Dr. j. B. Lawes, dated July 10,
1890. He says: Thin seeding never
has, and never will be largely adopted by
practical farmers in Great Britain, the
medium quantity of seed used per acre is
to 24 bushels-on very good land, in
high condition, probably II bushels is
enough. On my experiment wheat crops,
l have always used two bushels-as 1 be-
gan with this, do not like to change it. -
Dr. Lawes has been experimenting on diff
ferent crops for 80 years. He further
says, "at the present moment, should
say on the unmanured plots, and not suf-
ficiently MANFRED, the wheat is rather
thin-on the highly MANFRED plots it is
too thick. The great objection I have to-
wards thin seeding is the great increase
in the amount of weeds which are always
found in this crop. Wheat is not Guilt
waited in this country. The only treat
ment it receives from sowing until har-
vesting, is being rolled in the spring If
the land has become lightened by the
winter frosts, and does not tread firm.
and the better class of farmers also hoe
their wheat If too many weeds are seen
IN 1t: Our wheat promises very well,
but Just now when very dry weather
would be of the greatest value here, we
have rain every day, and unless change
occurs shortly, our prospects will alter
very much for the worse
We publish here another letter on EN-
silage," believing our readers desire all
the information they can get of this i'm
portant subject. 1t is from Mr.. Charles
K. Harrison, of Maryland, published, in
June number of Ame7feaaa Farmer. It
will be seen Mr.. Harrison has been very
successful without any other COVERING
than straw and dirt, as for turnips.
PRESERVING GREEN Crops (ENs1LAGE).
Aessr8. Editors american Farmer:
believe I am under promise to give
you, the result of my experience in re-
gard to the preserving of green crops in
sIIos. My attention was first called to
this matter by accounts Of its success in
France, although it is by no means a re-
cent discovery having been practiced for
long period in Europe.
During the summer Of 1878 I made
an excavation of 100 feet in length, 10
feet inches wide at the top, 7 feet wide
at the bottom and 6 feet deep. lined
this with slabs of cheap boards, both in
In the bottom and on the sides The
side boards were l6 feet ones cut in two.
They were two feet above the ground in
the highest places when finished, and the
earth was banked against them on the
outside to secure against any surface
water finding its way in. This pit was
filled with corn-fodder, cut up one inch
in length. did not have enough fod-
der to mound it up, so used straw and
when it was finished and covered with
l8 inches of earth it was moundedS like
turnp-heap and carefully watched,
earth being supplied as it settled. 1t
18th, 1879.
In the summer of 1879 I increased
the length of my pit rs feet, and put
IN large quantity of corn-fodder to
preserve. The hail having DESTROYED
my, wheat crop, 1 ploughed up a field
and put 1T In German millet in June
and used this also to put in the pit. Tn
September, the corn being in the ear and
IN tassel, but still very green, cut it
down and hauled it to the pit as fresh
ana green as possible. Possibly some of
your readers would like to know how
this corn was raised and as there are
many extravagant statements appearing
IN regard to the yield of corn-fodder'
some remarks in regard to it NAV not be
amlss My corn yellow is put in drills
90 inches apart, strewed in at the rate
OF five or six bushels to the acre. on land
previously. well prepared and heavily
manfred with strong cow-dung (beddine
cut IN short lengths) and manure put on
at over 30 tons to the acre. cultivate
two or three times, and have lust finished
putting in II acres and shall put in
the balance this week and next.
| cut the corn up with No. 5 Daniels
cutter, made in Woodstock, VT. and bv
steam power. The corn is not allowed
to dry or become wilted if it can be
avoided experience having proved to me
that what goes into the pit with dew on
1T comes out in very satisfactory con-
dldon. l consider the secret of success
to be COMPRISING and keeping out rain
and surface water. To secure the first
put man and mule in the pit and
keep him riding the mule steadily at
stated intervals the engine stons anJ
all hands tramp the ensIlaoe naYt 81