The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1885-08-12
OUR FARM BUDGET.
Preparing for Seeding whsat--HOw Small Or
ehards Pay--kanurs.
Hens and chiekens-When TO Caurn-
Calses-Seed CONSERVATORY Beds
-HOuses-wages-H Household
Hfuts.-Farm Notes.
Preparing for seeding wheat.

tChicaso Tribune
The idea of seeding the same land to wheat
year after year IS not practiced except by
class of farmers who have little idea of the
fitness OF things. On new prairie land three
crops may be taken without serious deteri-
Grafton of the soil, though probably not with
ultimate profit in the long run. But the
new settler has some excuse. He must have
money, and wheat will bear longer trans
portation without being eaten up by freight
charges than any other grain except fax
seed. In the regular rotation, even on
the fertile soils of the West, il
should not occur oftener than once in four
years, and then preferably on a clover or
grass seed, especially where the soil is liable
to heave. An old land, however If consid-
cred advisable to seed, fair crops are raised
by drilling between the rows of corn, having
fst raised filth on the surface OF, say, two
inches IN depth
II wheat is to be seeded on stubble land, of
whatsoever kind, the soil should be plowed
at the ordinary depth as soon after harvest
as possible and thereafter as often as posi-
bic, up to seeding time, to a depth OF some
what less than three inches. Seed at the
rate of not less than six to eight pecks, ac-
cnrding as the soil is in condition for tilling.
If the seed is drilled one-quarter less seed
may be used than in broadcast sowing and
for the reason that the seed is all covered,
and at given depth. Wheat will terminate
stronger and more freely at "a depth OF from
one 10 one and half inches than at any
O-her depth, but, to provide againstall posi-
bic contingencies, two inches is found to be
the best depth on ordinary loams or some
what less on very firm clay soils.
Wheat is a firm-soil plant, but requires
the surface TO be of the finest possible tilth.
A soil light and fluffy 70 a considerable
depth should never be sOwn to winter wheat,
and one naturally so can never be made firm
by any amount of rolling, or even by thor
Ough tramping by cattle; and neither is soft
humus soil proper for spring wheat. Hence
all having such soils should hesitate before
sowing largely of this crop, and never on
spring-plowed land If chinch bugs or
Hessian fly have prevailed in the neighbor-
hood the probability is that some other crop
will be more profitable next season than
wheat. The absolute cleanness and good
apply 10 all seed grains-must be GER
tainly known. If you have no cheat, or
other foul weeds in the soil, and the seel
be perfectly clean, your crop Will be so.
If the seed grains are large of their variety,
dense. and uniform in size the plants will
De uniformly vigorous, according TO the
eapability and adaptation of the soil IL the
crop Ii is the most unwise economy TO sow
indifferent, foul or light seed. Mills are
now constructed that Will take every foul
seed from any grain by proper regulation
OF. the wind and sleeves, and special machines
are now made 10 prepare seed grains of every
Kind. But il is not enough that the seed has
been cleaned in lire mill. This simply gives
clean seed. What is wanted for the best re-
suits, for land In prime condition, is grain of
the greatest specific gravity. This may be
obtained by placing the grain on the barn
floor and shoveling il in successive casts
across the floor. The heaviest grain will be
carried the farthest. If this heavy grain
is sown by itself, and seed saved in the same
way for successive years the result will be
, astonishing TO those who have never cOnsid-
cred the question of heredity-as true in
vegetables as animals.
Not only will the yield be increased per
acre, but the quality of the grain will be in
creased IN the same ratio as the quantity.
To the slovenly farmer, who grows his crops
among weeds, or he who refuses TO feed his
soil when worn, this trouble in the selection
of seed viii not pay. Such farmers never
make any money from their crops. A pre-
carlous living is ali they can expect. Such
men never read. Their sole animus seems to
be 70 reduce the average product as low as
possible. The better class of farmers how
ever, who spend labor TO put their soil in the
best possible condition, will find profit in
this special care in selecting seed. They well
know that the self-binding reaper will cover
as many acres of wheat yielding thirty bush
els per acre, as if only fifteen were grown.
These are the men who make money upon
the average light yield. Unless the crop is
destroyed by fungus groTths, storms or in
sects their average is good in seasons when
the sloyen gets hardly enough to pay for
harvesting.