The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1883-08-22
How Much Wheat seed per Acre?
American AgriCulturist.l


Where wheat is not at all crowded, in a
rich, mellow soil, and the ullering is not i'm
peoed tire average number of stems for each
plant is about sixteen. Each one produces 8
head or ear, containing on an average, under
reasonably fayOTa bic conditions, iifty grains
Thus one grain yields eight hundred grains
AZ this rate, the man who sOws two bushels
to the acre, would harvest sixteen hundred
bushels per acre. or else much of the seed Is
lost The average yield of the country, how
ever is less than fifteen bushels per acre 4
bushel OF wheat contains, ordinarily, seven
two bushels. one million five hun
dred thousand grains. An acre OF
land cCnialnsslightly abOvesix million square
inches. So that each plant has four square
inches from which TO derive sustenance.
! Measure thaton the ground, and see how small
it is. Can you expect the plant to make q
vigorous growth on four square inches? Can
you expect 1t to .tlIler and produce sixteen
stems? Can you expect it to mature sixteen
full heads The result OF this crowding is
plain The plants can not gain nutrIment
when growing so densely. Some must die
that the others may live. The strong triumph
and the weak succumb. This struggle for life
begins as soon as the plants appear above
ground. As the plants grow larger, they re-
quire more room, and others must give way,
and very few, if any. attain foil growth.
All are cTamped and starved. Tillering is
I Nv
those that do tiller imperfsctly. The same is
true of caring. Full ears can not be ex-
pected. An acre of wheat contains about
! 100000 heads. 1t is safe to say that on &c
! count of tillering, these are produced by
J. 100000 plants. Consequently, only one-fifth
/ of the grain sOwn produce mature plants;
! these plants produce less than one-iifth OF
the proper number of stems by tillering aud
/ these produce imperfect heads. This is
/ almost entirely caused by cfowding.
/ Two quarts of seed sown an acre have
| produced fifty bushels Of wheat. Where all
the conditions are favorable, the American
farmer should not SOW more than half
| bCshel per acre. Bot agric ultural reforms
are never sweeping; therefore, let the wheat
growers try one bushel per acre.
Attention, Peach Growers.
To those who find themselves, for the first
time, with crop Of peaches on their hands,
the most important question is-how to dis
! pose OF II? If a commission dealer in city
market has not been selected, this should be
! attended TO at Orce. tits not dfficult toascer-
tain the reputation of such men, and ha siue
selected one, stick to him. All sorts of shys-
tiers will come along, as the fruit is near
| ripenihe, Offering better terms than any one
else. Usually these have no regular place of
| business, but sell Oh the dock or at the
! depot, il they get a consignment, In many
Localities drying or evapOrating, and canning
. factories, have been established. 1t will
be well 10 ascertain If the fruit
| may not be contracted for az these
on favorable terms and thus avoid
much OF the labor and uncertainty of mar
! keiing. If the crop is 10 be marketed OF
| course the kind of packages has been decided
upon and procured. II these are 10 be re-
turned when emptied, see that they are prop
erly marked. The novice in pesch growing
| has much trouble with his piCkeTs. He can
not afford to pick himself, but must watch
I the Others. The great trouble IS from over
! ripe fruit. a single soft peach will spoil
crate or basket, should ii become "leaky."
Where experienced pickers are 10 be had
they assort as they pick, but even In the
/ larse orchards it is now becoming the Gust )m
! to assert afterwards. All the fruit properly
! ripe is picked and then taken to the 'sorters,"
| or "cullers," who make three or four quail
ties, as may be decided upon. This work is
| done in shed for the purpose or temporary
tables OF boards upon horses, upon
which 10 spread the fruits. are placed in
the orchard. The very finest peaches go
as extra" and the packages Of these are
"twigged," !. e., a small branch OF peach
leaves is placed at the top second and
third quality are made by some. while others
send buttwo. All The over-ripe, badly shaped.
specked or otherwise faulty peaches are placed
in third or fourth basket, may be, to be
used at home, or fed to the pigs. Whether
two or three grades are sent to the market let
/ them be distinctly marked. Let the quality
be the same all through the package, if the
grower wishes 10 have his brand acquire a
good reputation. Ii is allowable to place the
Top layer will their colored sides uppermost
but not 10 deacon" or top off, with large
peaches, while ali below are inferior. Retail
ers, who buy the most OF the peaches sent to
market, soon learn which brands turn out
the best, and select accordingly in purchasing.
why Prices for Butter Are Low.
The Ohio Farmer, in considering some of
the causes that operate against uniform
prices for dairy goods, including inequality
of production. forced sales of short-lived
summer butter, the inability to make a good,
cheap and long. keeping article for export,
etc. sums up the situation as follows:
The remedy can only be found In yet better