The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1884-08-16
Experiments with Wheat.

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pleted, and the result in general has been
such as to make glad the hearts of our
farmers. In some of the counties of our
own and neighboring states, the yield has
seldom been excellcd, and we have heard
of but few cases in which there has not
been full average yield. The price of
this grain has of late been very low, prin-
cipally from the fact that the crops of other
countries, which we in part supply, or with
which we come into competition, have also
been better than usual; but we will be able
to make up for the depression in price by
the quality and quantity of our crop. Let
us be thankful, therefore, and be prepared
to take advantage of any change that may
occur.
As we shall soon be making preparation
for the next years crop, the following ex-
tracts from the report of experiments made
at Columbus, o., by Director Lazenby, at
the experimental station, Ohio, will be
found of interest:
Thick and Thin Seeding.-Wheat was
sown on eight plots, the amount of seed
ranging from two to nine pecks per acre.
The ripening of the wheat was quite uni
form throughout. IF there was any diff
ference the earliness was in favor of the
thick seeding. In regard to the quality of
the grain, little difference could be detected
by the eye, but careful and accurate weigh
ing showed that the thin seeding gave the
largest kernels, but the weight Of meas
ured bushel of grain was greater, as more
seed was used-thc weight ranging from
ffty-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 uniformly less in the case of thin,
and more in the case of thick seeding.
Some obvious lessons from the table are
l. 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. That no definite rule can be given
that will serve as reliable guide for
farmers in various portions of the state in
determining the best quantity per acre.
The condition of the soil and exposure, the
quality of seed, size of individual kernels,
capacity of variety for tillering, liability of
injury from insects and other enemies, are
all factors that should have due eonsidera-
ton in deciding the amount of seed to USE
If all the conditions were at their best the
pecks of seeds per acre would be ample
This is seldom or never the case. Hence
more seed is usually required
Winter Protection.-A plot was covered
with straw early in December to the depth
of two or three inches. The station notes
show that this plot was not injured in the
least by the severe weather of the winter.
Throughout the entire season the wheat
presented strong, healthy, even growth.
The straw appeared to serve double
purpose, that of protecting the young plants
from the severity of the winter, and by
acting as mulch, also protecting them
from the drouth Of summer.
Early and Late Seeding.-Plots were
plowed and sowed at various times, from
August % to October 13, and from tabu-
lated results the following conclusions were
drawn
1. Winter wheat may be sowed too early
in the season or it may be sowed too late,
so there must be a certain time, neither too
early nor too late, which is the best date to
put in the seed.
2. Many factors must be considered in
designating the best time to sow. The
condition of the soil and the exposure, the
presence of the Hessian fly, ETC., must all
be duly considered.
3. 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 LIST of September or the LIST of October
4. Wheat sown as late in the season as
it 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.
8. The earliest sown wheat usually has
the largest top and proportionately the
smallest root; in the latest sown wheat the
root is proportionally larger.
g. On poor soil and badly prepared
ground the wheat should be sown earlier
than upon rich soil and well prepared
seed bed.
I. In this latitude the Hessian fl is not
very troublesome in wheat sown later than
September %.
s. The best date for sowing winter
wheat in Central Ohio is from the 10th of
September to the Both of September, ac-
cordino to the conditions mentioned above