Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1881-04-14

1t seems from the observations of grain
growers during the four years past, that
early seeding is not what it is cracked up
to he. 1t has been the experience of many
old resident farmers with whom we have
conversed, that the hest yields of grain
have been from seed sown about from the
LIST to the 18th of May. OF course consid-
cradle depends on the season. but it isn
somewhat glaring fact, and one that should
hr considered. that the grain crop has SUI
fered from blight during three years past.
and n each of these years we have had al
early spring, that is to say, seeding was
done in March and April. in >tead of, as
formerly, in April and May. We have
watched the crops closely for two years
past, and find that grain sown ut very
early dates. about March. and that seeded
later than usual, about May, yield the best
and stand the excessive heat and drouth
during the hottest weather, better than the
grain sown in April. 1t was noticed that
the earliest sown grain was too far advan
ced to be seriously injured by the hot
weather, the grain was ripencd and not
seriously injured. while the last sowing
Was not sufficiently advanced to be hurt,
but rather appeared to he benefited by the
heat The grain planted in the interven.
ing time, seeding during these years com
menced in April, appeared to be in con
q; - f1,o ini,
badly Our hot weather appeared to strike
it about as the wheat was in the milk
stage, and the result was, the grain was
hurriedly ripencd and was shrunken or
hlighted Some of our old farmers, those
who almost always have good crops, state
that the great mistakes made by many Of
the new and inexperienced settlers, are in
sowing too little seed; sowing, in old land
especially. before the ground is in fit
condition to receive the grain; and sowing
too early in the season 1t is fact sus-
ceptihle of proof, that where liberal
quantity of seed is sown, little less than
or about two bushels per acre, the yield is
always far ahead, both in quality and
quantity, of land thinly seeded. Old lind
should not he seeded until the ground has
baked. as it will do after the moisture
leaves it; it may do to "mud i'm seed on
breaking, but it is a poor policy on old
ground as the land har,lcns after drag
ging; whereas if the seeding is done after
The ground hakes the working loosens up
and mpllowS the land. AS TO sowing too
early in the season. in addition to ol,jec
| lions previously made, those who have had
long experience, also disapprove of it, for
tie reason that the grain requires certain
amount of warmth before it will sprout
and the land should he not too could when
it is sowD, as if it lays too long the spring
rains uncover it and much of it is rotted OF
baked under These observations we give
in hopes that they may he of some practi
| Cal benefit, and would ask ally of our far
mer readers 10 favor us with any further
facts or with criticisms Of this article. Tho
suggestions and recommendations here
given, have been derived from reliable
sources, and while we give the experience
of others we also embody facts as obtained
| by personal observation. One thing is evi
dent however. our crops are not what they
should he. and why they are not is prob
lem which we must endeavor to solve.