The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1882-09-30

A perfect wheat soil, rs has been re-
peatedly stated on this page, must con-
tain lime, potash, phosphate and nitro
gen in their various combinations with
other mineral elements, and in due pro-
portions, and at the same time be sulli-
GENTLY porous to permit water to pass
down readily and leave the surface dry
and firm. Lime soils are especially
adapted to wheat. Sandy and gravelly
soils by liberal manuring can be made
productive, and no means perhaps are
more effective than clover and plaster or
gypsum.
Soils that yield good clover crops will
Weld good wheat crops, and clover
sod is one OF the best natural prepara-
tons for wheat. Not a few cultivators
seed corn ground to wheat. Some sow
wheat among the standing corn, but
this rs not largely practised, as it leaves
the surface of the land in bad order.
Others cut up the corn and plow and
sow wheat. The lateness of this opera
ton is an objection in many sections.
Other cultivatOrS select an oat field or
fallow land. There is a great diversity
of opinion in regard to sowing wheat
after barley or oats. Many successful
farmers do it; while, on the other hand,
many consider the practice a careless
one and unworthy of good husbandry.
The relative merits of drill and broad
cast sowing of wheat are discussed every
season. The area seeded with the drill.
according to recent reports, amounts to
ttty-Seven per cent. in the wheat-grow-
ing States. Where the soil is in good
condition and free from Instructions in
the way of rocks and stumps, the pref
erence is almost invariably for drilling.
Among the advantages claimed for drill
inc are saving of seed and placing the
fertilizer in closer proximity to the seed.
A great argument in favor of drilling is
that it must be preceded by thorough
culture. Many farmers roll their land
Just before the drill to solidify the sur
face, while the soil is left loose under
meath.
Clover and field-peas are accepted as
among the cheapest and best renovators
OF the soil and produce excellent results,
especially in thin soils. The application
of lime increases the yield of any of the
grain crops and is beyond question bene-
fetal to wheat, but will exhaust the land
if persevered in without rotation. After
wheat is sown lime is often advantage
ouSly used as top dressing when mixed
with ashes, muck, etc. Where the use of
fertilizers is confined to the practice of
Spreading them over the ground and
blowing in, or scattering over the sur
face and narrowing in previous to sowing
the seed, the operation of fertilizing is
confined to stated periods of the year
but where the practice is adopted of
surface manuling after termination and
growth has been made, the work of man.
urlng may go on from fall until spring,
and IN that way the winter accumulation
OF manure be used. In no case is it well
TO spread manure heavily enough to in
duce rank growth and thus endanger the
crop by lodging or rust. In applying
ground bone and the superphosphites on
wheati it is generally sown broadcast.
Better drainage and better tillage are
each year being given by professional
wheat cultivatOrs, who have also dis
covered that there is happy medium
between very thick and very thin seed
mg.-N Y. World.