Rocky Mountain husbandman. [volume] (Diamond City, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1883-08-30
THE CULTURE OF WHEAT.

Some twelve or fifteen years ago an i'm
preston prevaiIed-indeed the results seem
ed to establish the fact-that wheat culture
in Pennsylvania. like fruit culture had run
out, and farmers clubs and agricultural
papers went full tilt to discussing the reason
Oft. But subsequently, both took turn,
and we should like to know to-day if any
one dares to say that both truit and wheat
cannot be raised as successfully here as in
almost amy other State. Sune said at first
that ii would last only little while-now
and then we may get along well enough,
but who can say how long il will last, or in
case failure shnnld come again what we are
evil which there was no reason to believe
would soon occur again. and as it has not
yet returned we lie 4r no more about it. The
grumblers are quiet; they take with thanks
we hope all they receive, and may entertain
the best expectation for the future.
The greatest enemy of the wheat crop is
too murh water. 1t may be said that the
wheat root is more susceptible to injury
from too much water than nany OF us be-
leve. To be sure. there is general inn
but the tull force of the impression is seldom
felt AS it deservest to be. Water laying
around roots does not always kill wheat
plants, but many o. the roots are injured,
and the few that are left are not able to do
the work that all were intended to take part
s,, Iasn n
plant in spring which has stood all winter
in a wet place, he will see exactly how this
is. Only living roots close to the surface
and all below this may be injured.
The English seem to understand this wa
ter iniary better than we do, and provide
against it on wheat lands by numerous fur
rows. In some cases of t1attish land one
twentieth of the whole area may be counted
rs surface iurrows; and yet with this waste
OF ground. as some would say, they beat us
considerably in the namber of bushels they
get per acre.
1t is supposed by many that whether we
have good wheat season or a bad one de-
pends more on the quantity of rain we get
at various seasons, or the condition OF the
ground, or of the plants at the time rain
falls. II it goes away through the ground
rapidly 1t is good for the plant. though in
large quantities but if it lies long it is an
injury. Thas, If a piece of land is rather
flat and the ground is frozen deep and stays
frozen after the upper has thawed, and rain
or melted snow left in the frozen bottom
keeps the water from passing away, and so
injury results to the roots. On sloping
ground the water passes out on the lower
position, and in these cases not so much in
jury results.
There are no doubt many causes which
conspire to injure crops but this overdose
of VI ater is very likely to be one OF them,
and it will be wise for all those who are in
terested in wheat culture to take every pre-
caution to carry off water which may fall on
the land. Open bitches or plow burrows,
as many do; hey are very essential to this
end. Attend to this carefully and it will
be found that wheat culture in Pennsylva-
MIA will be as productive as ever it was,
and will continue to be Germantown
Telegraph.
ANN unrArnpc