The semi-weekly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1879-1882, 1881-10-31
FARM NOTES.

SowING WHEAT.-Every farmer
knows what to do with his seed
wheat ct this season, for the custom
Of sowing and narrowing in is an old
one. With the exception of drilling
in the seed in some localities there
has been no change in the methods
prActised by our fathers. There is
something to keep in view, however,
and that is the severity of the winter.
Wheat is hardy and can stand any
degree Of cold knowa in this latitude,
and failures Of tie wheat crop are rare.
But the ground is often frozen to .
great depth, and if a sudden tbaw
comes upon it the young plants are
thrown out, which necessitates the
use of the roller very early in the
year. But the roller does not always
repair the damage, and as wheat has
been seeded in with the usual condi-
tions it may be hsresy to suggest q
new idea. In Virginia and North
Carolina the seeding is often delayed
- late as November, and after the
ground is selected they have q very
novel, quick and effectual way of
doing the business in some parts of
those States. They do not plough
the land, harrow it, then seed it, and
finally roll it. Not by any means for
they do not waste time with it in
going over it 30 often. It may sur
prise our farmers if they are informed
that the seed is sown on the ground
and the field ploughed afterward.
That is, they plough in the
seed and break up the land at
the same time. It is not turned
under very deep. only one horse being
used, and the seed comes up well,
stauds the thaws better, and produces
good yields. In the spring the field
begins to show . good green color,
the harrow is passed over it and it
then remains until time to harvest
it.
It may not do to try this exper-
iment on soils that are very heavy,
and yet il is done on heavy soils as
well as light; but if the field is frst
broken with double pillow, then seed
cd, and the seed turned under with a
single pillow, crossing the burrows, ii
would no doubt be an improvement.
The method is worth trying, and if
small piece Of land was treated in
this way it would convince those who
have not tried it that it is beneficial.
It enables.the wheat to root better,
gives it greater feeding facilities, and
Is protection in winter and benefit
In summer. Do not fear that the
seed will not come up It may be q
little slower doing SO, but if good seed
Il used 1t will sprout and push
through without difficulty. The har-
rowing 10 spring 10 beneficial to wheat
~ II seems to stimulate 1t al once and |
increase the crop. If ploughing in
the ueed is Objectionable as risky, |
(Which II IL not) resort to the cul-
tivator ID even better than placing the
seed down 30 near the surface. If
wheat Is not plowed under the roller
should be put in operation several
times after frost has worked upon the
ground. It does not injure the
wheat to roll it, bat presses down the
exposed plants, brushes the clods and
smooths the field. / have not said |
about fertilizers for O wheat
crop, but defer that for the present.
Al there are some farmers who are
not done seeding, it would be q val
liable experiment to try this blowing
in seed wheat, and If q small portion |
Of . field was thus trestsd for com. !
would be convincing. ].