The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-03-17
treatment of tne wheat Field.

In few weeks the fall-sown wheat will
begin to start and as spring is the most crit
ical period with the cop the best attention
should be given il while the plants are
young. Should the weather moderate and
the thawing OF the ground throw the plants
out it will be necessary to pass roller over
the field as soon as 10 can be done. Care
should be taken not 10 disturb the field
while IL is in very wet condition. An
other difficulty is that very often, after the
frost has lett the ground and the field is wet
a very cold night may damage the plants to
some extent. This, however, Is not usually
the case where good tile drainage is prac-
ticed. IL is not generally known that wheat
will give excellent results II cultivated I'm
rows, bat such has been demonstrated in
Europe 10 be the most profitable method OF
securing large yields. Ii compels the grower
to- thoroughly prepare the land and select
the beat seed only, in order TO save labor In
eradcating weeds, the yield being crop OF
better quality than that produced by the
broadcast system.
The common practice with the majority OF
wheat growers is to drill In the seed, and
many OF them drill superphosphate at the
same time OF putting in the seed. The
wheat crop, however, is one that responds
to kind treatment, and the use OF the har.
row over the field in the spring usually re-
suits In increasing the yield OF grain, rs well
as stimulating growth early. Wheat Is very
phospbates are also beneficial. In some Sec
tions the farmers apply guano. while in
others sulphate OF ammonia Is used. The
ordinary fertilizers sold rs superphosphate
often contain large proportion OF nitrogen
also, but, though such applications are ben
fetal, it will be found best 10 give dressing
of some nitrogenous fertilizer in the spring
at the time OF narrowing the field. For this
purpose nitrate OF soda is more generally
preferred, owing TO its being so ready sol able
in water. Whether the soda benefits
the growing wheat or not Is
yet 10 be determined as il Is
claimed that soda does not eater
largely into the composition of the plants
But there is no doubt that 1t assists in rend-
ing soluble the silica which is essential TO
the plants and which is one OF the most i'm.
portant elements appropriated as food by
the crop. Silica is very plentiful substance
In al Soils bat il is so insoluble as to be
almost useless and il is never applied in the
fertilizers butts changed in composition in
the soil by the chemical action OF lime,
potash soda, salt and acids.
Although an application of superphosphate
may have been made in the fall, slight
dressing of the same substance during the
spring, in connection with the nitrate OF
soda, usually gives good results. IL few
days after the application q greener tinge
will appear on the plants and they will
grow very fast, even where the crop is sickly
and seems unpromising. Nitrate of soda is
known as Chilli saltpeter. and rangesin price,
for the crude article, from four to six cents
q pcdnd The quantity required for sn acre
is from 100 to 200 pounds, and though, per-
hsps, apparently expensive it more than
pays for such investment in the benefit to
the growing crop and yield at harvest time
The cheapest mode of improving the
crop, however, is the narrowing of the field
in the spring. And in cases where the area
devoted to wheat Is small it will be an i'm
provement to carefully remove oil the cock
.es AID weeds p c-ll.rs .-sl c.. 81 Asn..,