The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1885-10-21

At the recent monthly meeting of
the Berks County Agricultural Soci-
ety. there was an interesting discus
sion Of the following important ques-
ton AT what depth should wheat
be sown, and what quantity should
be sown per acre to give the best re-
suits ?"
Jacob G. Zerr, ESQ.,, of Union
township ex-president of the society
opened the discussion. He said
that opinions differ; some favor
deep and Others shallow sowing. He
had experience in regard to each.
He thought that first of ali ground
should be placed in the best possible
condition, the same as farmers work
their gardens, before any planting
| is done. Ifground is well pulveriz-
ed it matters not as to the light COW
ering. Take potatoes, he said, and
put them in well prepared ground,
and if only slightly covered they
will grow. He illustrates the ques-
ton of shallow planting, and the
growth of embryo shoots. Ifplant-
ed too deep the ground will bake,
get hard, and the weak shoot can
scarcely break through. One inch
of soil on corn is enough, and the
same may be said in regard to
wheat.
Judge Stitzel agreed with Mr..
Zerr that one of the first duties in
putting out the winter crops would
be to put the ground in order. The
majority of the farmers in this coun-
ty are disposed to plow the ground
but once, which he thought a great
mistake. He had been told that if
plowed twice the ground would get
too fine, but that IS because they use
the harrow too much. If we plow
twice, and harrow as often as farmers
here usually do, we get the ground
too nne. and wheat will get too deep
but by blowing twice and using the
roller you will not get the wheat
down more than two inches, which
is ample. But the principle thing
is the quantity of seed to be sown.
A mistake is frequently made by
sowing too much seed. One bushel
to the acre in carefully prepared soil
will produce as much as if two bush
els were sown. The speaker thought
that bushel and a. half is quite
enough.
r. w. Scherer of Obey township
related his experience He believed
in twice plowing for thorough prepa-
ration of the soil, as the ground can
be put in better condition than by
frequent narrowing. In loose soil
he believed in shallow planting, but
in heavy soil like that of our lime
stone valleys he thought it ought to
be put little deeper He explain
ed the nature of the growth of the
wheat plant, ard spoke of its double
set of roots, one deep down and the
other near the surface. For general
purposes be preferred shallow seed
ing. The quantity of seed per acre
depends upon the character of the
soil. In strong soil, bushel and "A
half OF wheat is enough. and in light
soil two bushels is net TOO much.
Jacob g. Zerr spoke of the use OF
a drill on his farm. which had been
set to drill bushel and three pecks
to the acre. By a mistake only a
bushel and peck had been put on
one portion. The wheat came up
in both portions, and the wheat was
best where the smaller quantity had
been sown. He then gave a result
of his visit to the State College,
where experimental plots of wheat
are cultivated, and where shallow
seeding has produced the best re-
suits.
The secretary then read a letter
from H. J. Schantz, Esq, of Trexler-
town, Pa, I'D reference to wheat cul-
ture. Mr.. Schantz had been invited
to attend the meeting, but was pre-
vented by illness in his family. He
writes: Your subject for discussion
is one that every farmer ought to
feel an interest in. For my part, |
have paid great attention to the SUBJ
ject, and have been experimenting
for some years. AS regards depth,
have found that which was plant
ed from one and a half to two inches
has stood the winter the best, espec-
tally in an open winter As regards
quantity, that | find depends good
deal on the soil and the time of
planting. Soil well cultivated with
five tons of stable manure and 200
pounds phosphate applied close to
the wheat and sown or planted
about the 18th day of September,
with one bushel and a peck to the
acre, has given me the best results
and the best quality of wheat. Last
year ! had my wheat sown on the
18th of October, with five pecks of
Martins Amber, but the result was
not so good, yielding only twenty
five bushels to the acre. MY nephew
Thomas S. Cooper, however, to whom
| sold eight bushels of Martins Am
ber wheat, with which he planted
six acres, having applied ten tons of
stable manure, and planted the 23d
of September The yieid was AZ
bushels TO the acre. and to give YOU
an idea | have mailed you few
heads of his wheat as fair sample
of its growth and quality. 1t was
very prolific in straw and grain, and
was cut on the 9th of July, whereas
my own sown on the 18th of October
under sod and without the applica-
ton of fertilizers, but well cultivated,
was eight to ten days later. SO that !
am satisfied it depends a great deal
how the soil is prepared, and the
time when sown, for the best Weld
The sample of wheat heads sent
by Mr.. Schantz were passed around
and examined. The verdict was
general that the heads were unusual
ly fine.
Cure for Piles
Piles are frequently preceded by |
sense of weight in the back, loins