Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1885-10-09
WINTER WHEAT.



wise in this day Of adversely to consider
II there arc not some good and sufficient
reasons for the failure. The primary
reason is doubtless the exceedingly un-
favorable season. But to lay the whole
blame Of the failure of the crop to this
cause IS equivalent to an admission that
q man is helpless when contending
against the elements, and may reason
ably sit idly W til folded hands AMI
accept as II fatalist whatever fortune
circumstances may bring to him. In
Ike manner man might as reasonably
sow his seed and leave it prey to
weeds and thon complain that the
weeds had ruined his crop. 1t is one OF
the inevitable and unavoidable con
ditiOns Of Our existence that we have TO
strive against adverse influences
OF soil and climate. Weeds,
storms, and injurious seasons have
to be prepared for and eyaded in some
manner by the exercise OF skilful and
timely precautions. 1t is childish for
any OF u 10 say we eau not help this or
that adverse influence until we have ex-
haused every possible effort to avoid or
nullify it. Has this been done in regard
to last years wheat cropp 1t must be
confessed that in the great majority of
cases this has not been done and that
the greater part of the losses are due to
the imperfect manner in which the land
has been prepared for the crop. Wheat
is highly cultivated and domosticated
plant and will not bear the rieors of
winter unless it has every advantage of
fertile and well prepared sol. Without
these 1t succumbs to adverse conditions
of weather, and is easily destroyed.
There is no other crop grown that re-
quires better farming than wheat. and
it must be confessed that skillful farm
ing is exceed ngly rare. This is proved
by every day experience. as well as bv
the very low average OF wheat produced
per acre, viz, about eleven bushels in
the State of New York, against the
possible average of twenty-seven BUSH
els in other countries.
Just now farmers are preparing for
the next wheat crop. and it is a timely
subject for thought how the dangers to
which wheat is subject may be avoided
and escaped. Let us consider what the
wheat crop requires for its perfect
growth and then see how exceedingly
rare 1t is that these requisites are pro.
vided. Wheat needs a peculiar condi.
ton of the soil. 1t should be made very
mellow and fine about the seed and
below it to depth sufficient 10 give
room for the roots to spread and take
firm hold. On the surface the soil
should be somewhat loose and open and
somewhat lumpy, but the Jumps should
be small and not so large as to be called
clods. This condition is only secured
by the most careful and thorough work.
ing. 1t requires also soil free from
stagnant water, and this is only pro.
cured by thorough drainage. No other
crop requires drainage so much as
wheat, and none is more quickly de-
stroyed by the action of frost upon wet
soil. The plowing OF the soil is the
first thing to think about, and this is to
be done at the earl est possible moment.
IL will not do to leave the blowing for
wheat until the week before it is me to
sow the seed. Old farmers were in the
habit of summer following the land for
wheat, and never considered it to be
properly fitted without two or three
plowings and six or eight borrowings.
We are in too great hurry to do this.
but haste makes waste" and
in this respect the proverb is especially
applicable Moreover. If the ground is
not plowed as soon as it is ready for tho
plow, the dry weather almost always
interferes with or prevents the work,
and it is done in the worst possible
manner and in hurry. The way TO
avoid this difficulty is to begin in good
season and pillow the ground as soon AS
it is cleared of the standing crop. 1t is
one of the evils Of our present too short
rotation that wheat-which, as we have
said, is the most particular and exact
ing crop-is made to follow oats or
corn. and the latter is the worse of tho
two. Following oats the land Is usual.
ly well manured and often lined, and il
the oat stubble is plowed as soon as il
is cleared little or no harm may ensue;
but the immediate plowing is indispens.
able to the proper fitting Of the ground
One good plowing. with care TO tura
even burrows and to. follow with re-
peated harrowings, and rollings if ncs-
essary or to work the land thoroughly
with a good pulverizing harrow or
some cultivating implement which
answers as plow and harrow
and even roller at once, will
make an excellent preliminary prepara.
ton. Repeated harrowings will fine
and consolidate the soil, working all the
mellow earth to the bottom and making
a compact and firm seedbed. end bring
ing all the Jumps, which will be small,
to the surface. Then we have the
especial conditions which the wheat
crop needs. and if the seed is sown by a
drill. or broadcast and covered with a
cultivator or small plow, all that can be
done will be done. and the farmer may
then wait with patience, confidence and
hope that the ancient promises will be
surely fulfilled, viz, that ''secd time
and harvest shall not fail" and that
"the hand of the diligent shall be filed"
A few words might be added to call
attention to tho rarity of this requisite
preparation, but it is scarcely needed.
Every farmer knows how carelessly the
fall grain is put into the soil as rule;
how corn stubble is narrowed or
scratched with the plow, and sown and
left to produce crop, or fail to do it,
just as the season may happen; or how
q wcedy oat stubble, all dry, hard and
baked. Is broken up in a most imperfect
manner, the rough surface rolled and
just scratched so as to get an apparent
smooth surface upon which the seed is
sown, and then, as in the parable. the
seed 80 sown where it has no depth of
earth springs up, but soon perishes for
want of the needed nourishment for tho
roots. All this is an oft-told tale--an
"old, old story"-but it may be well to
repeat it as frightful example of how
not to do it, which might be profitably
exhibited in season and out of season. =
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