The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1883-11-17
Wheat After Corn.


Many farmers IN the Northern States
would be glad to grow winter wheat If,
without too much risk, they could make
it follow corn. But there seems to be
an impression that the corn crop can
not be taken from the ground as early
as winter wheat should be sown. Com
sequently, it is the common practice
either TO SOW rye (Which can be safely
put in later than wheat) or else leave
until the next year the land from which
the corn is removed. and then sow
spring instead of winter wheat.
That late-sown wheat at the North
often proves failure can not be denied.
But unless the delay is extreme, it is
probable that in a large proportion of
eases failure is due far less to late sow
ing than 1t is to other causes. While
extremely late sowing is never to be
recommended, there is little doubt that.
If other things receive proper attention,
grain sown moderately late will yield a
good crop. 1t viii certainly yield bet
ter than early sowing on land in which
the other conditions are unfavorable
Among the essentials to success in
growing winter wheat after corn may
be named the following:
The corn should be cut as soon "a
ripe, and removed from the land as soon
as 1t is dry enough to be easily ham
died.
The land should be plowed to a mod
crate depth, and all the corn-stubs
which are not we'll covered should be
carted from the field.
The land must be rich. If it was not
heavily manlred for the corn crop, it
should receive'a dressing of fine COM
post or Of Nvell-rotted manure. A mod
crate quantity Of lime or ashes would
also prove Of great benefit. If none of
these materials are at hand in sufficient
quantities, some standard chemical
fertilizer should be applied. Even on
land that is In high condition 1t will nav
to use lime, ashes or some chemical fer
tilizer. Whatever manure is used for
this crop, it should be applied to the
surface and narrowed in.
The surface soil must be thoroughly
pulverized. This is of the utmost i'm
portance Yet it is right here that MANY
farmers fail. They prepare the land as
well as they do for corn, and think that
Is all that isTequired. They overlook
the fact that in the early stages of its
growth wheat is delicate plant. which
needs to have the soil fitted for it in the
most careful manner, and which needs
plenty Of plant food near the surface.
and in a form in which it is Immediately
available.
Good seed, of some well-known and
thoroughly tested variety, should be
sown. This, whatever the time of sow
ing, is always essential. Drilling Is
better than broadcast sowing, and re-
quires less seed. One bushei per acre
if drilled, or one and half if broadcast
will probably be sufficient, though some
prefer larger quantity. If the land is
not very carefully prepared, from
twenty-five to fifty per cent. more seed
will be required. Rolling, after the
seed has been sown, will prove an adj
vantage.
Ii the land is naturally wet and has
not been drained, large burrows should
be plowed as soon as the sowing is fin
ished, to carry off the surplus water of
heavy autumn rains, and of the melting
snow in spring.
am confident that attention to the
points noted above will enable MANY
farmers at the North. who wish to grow
winter wheat in small quantities for
home use, to obtain good crop from
land which has this year produced :
crop Of corn QE: G J, EsGnlnan