Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-09-21
PreDaring for Wheat.

Now that the farmers are making prep
aratiOns for the wheat crop, it should not
be overlooked that the most important
object that should be sought is that of
rendering the seed bed as fine as possible.
The location for wheat should be thor
oughly pulveriZ9d and narrowed until it
is like garden in condition. The seed
should be sound, plump and uniform,
while extra care should be exercised in
freeing it from the seeds of weeds. By
sleeping the wheat seed about fifteen min
utes in a solution of suIphate of copper
the spores of rust and smut may be de-
stroyed, and this should not be neglected.
Some farmers prefer to broadcast the
seed, while others are more partial to
drilling. The richer the soil the smaller
the quantity of seed required, and the
quality of the fertilizer necessary depends
not only upon the condition of the soil but
also upon the kind of crop previously
grown. If clover formerly occupied the
ground intended for wheat there will be
but little itrOgenrequired, but phosphate
is an important material on nearly all
farms for this crop. Potash will not be
necessary where barnYard manure has
been applied, but if nitrogen is required
it should be brOadcasted over the wheat,
in the spring, in the shape of nitrate of
soda.
There have been many experiments con-
nected in seeding wheat for the best re-
suits, and it has been demonstrated that
where the seed has been carefully assorted
and plenty of room allowed each plant for
growth that the yield is thereby increased
while the plant thrives better. Where
there is an excess of straw it is usually
an indication that the land is well sup
piled with potash and nitrogen, and In
such cases the phosphates show marked
influence on the grains. The practice of
drilling in the phOsphates at the time of
drilling in the seed, although labor is
saved, is not the proper method, as the
entire bed is not evenly dressed. The fer
tilizer should be brOadcasted, so as to
have every portion equally fertilized,
which enables the plants to feed more
easily and conduces to the better spread
ing of the roots.
Cultivating crop of wheat with hoe
is a method which is not practiced in this
country, though often done in Europe
with marked success. Our farmers are
aware of the fact that good narrowing
given the growing wheat in the spring
sometimes increases the yield several
bushels per acre, and it is strong evidence
that wheat is susceptible of improvement
by cultivation. Cases are known in which
narrowing, assisted by hOeing, has dou-
bled the yield, but many of the benefits
may be traced back to the excellent prep
aration of the seeded in the beginning.
Wheat, when put in too early, becomes
subject to the attacks of the Hessian fly,
and when seeded late is liable to be dis
lodged by the frost, consequently the prop
er time for seeding depends upon the eli
mate. What we wish to impress upon
farmers, however, is the Importance of
thoroughly preparing the soil now. A
good blowing, followed by the use of a
pulverizer, with frequent narrowing, is
the proper method for preparing the
ground. The harrow cannot be used too
frequently and the land should be thor
oughly drained About one inch is the
proper depth for the seed, and should
barnyard manure in any form be used it
should be thoroughly worked MP with the
soil before seeding the wheat.-PbllGdek-
Dbi1 Record