Rocky Mountain husbandman. [volume] (Diamond City, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1884-09-11
WINTER WHEAT EXPERIMENTS IN OHIO

From Director LaZenby'S second annual
report of the station at Columbus we select
the record ofa few experiments and their
results.
Thick and Thin Seeding-Wheat was
sown on eight plats, the amount of seed
ranging from two to nine pecks per acre.
The ripening of the wheat was quite uni
torln throughout. II there was any differ
ence the earliness was in favor of the thick
seeding. In regard to quality Of the grain.
little difference could be detected by the
eye, but careful and accurate weighing
showed that the thin seeding gave the larg-
est kernels. but the weight of measured
bushel of grain was greater, as more seed
was used, the weight ranging from fifty
seven pounds where two pecks per acre
were sown, to 62.5 pounds where nine
pecks were sown.
Another observation of some interest is
that the proportion of the stand winter
killed was unifol mly less in the case OF thin,
and more in the case of thick seeding.
Some obvious lessons from the tables are
|. That the richer the soil and the more
perfect the seed-bed the less the amount OF
seed required.
2. That there is more danger of sowing
too much seed on an acre than of sowing
too little.
3. Thai no definite rule can be given
that will serve as reliable guide for farm
ers 10 various portions of the State in deter
mining the best quantity per acre. The
condition of the soil and exposure, the quail
ity OF the seed, side of individual Kernels.
capacity of variety for tillerng, liability of
injury from insects and other enemies, are
ton in deciding the amount OF seed to use.
Ii all the conditions were at their best three
pecks of seeds pere acre would be ample.
This is seldom or never the case. Hence
more seed is usually required.
Winter Protection--A plat was covered
with straw early in December, to the depth
of two or three inches. The station notes
show that this plat was not injured in the
least by the severe weather OF the winter.
Throughout the entire season the wheat
pltStHlCu hCdIoiAs CsCI
The straw seemed to serve double pur-
pose, that of protecting the young plants
from the severity OF the winters, and by
acting as mulch also protecting them
from the drought Of summer.
Early and Late Seeding-Plats were
plowed and sown at various times, and from
tabulated results the following conclusions
were dl avn:
|. Winter wheat may be sOwed too early
in the season or it may be sowed too late,
so there must be certain time, neither too
early nor too late, which is the best date to
put in the seep.
2. Many factors must be considered in
designating the best time to sow. The con-
dtion of the soil and the exposure, the
presence OF the Hessian fly, etc., must all
be duly considered.
g. Early seeding does not secure an early
harvest. The same variety sown under the
same conditions will mature about the same
time, whether the seeding be done the tirsl
OF September or the first o. October.
| 4. Wheat sown as late in the season as ii
can be and still be given time to become
firmly and strongly rooted and time to de-
velop leaves sufficient to cover the whole
ground, will best endure the winter.
5. The earliest sown wheat usually has
the largest top and prOportionately the
smallest root; in the latest sown wheat the
root is proportionally larger.
6. On poor soil and badly prepared
ground the wheat should be sown earlier
than upon rich soil and well-preparet
seed-bed.