The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-03-20
Treatment of the Wheat Field.

In few weeks the fall-sown wheat will begin
to start and as spring is the most critical PEI
riod with the CROP the best attention should be
given it 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
a roller over the field as soon as it can be done
Care should be taken not to disturb the field
while it is in very wet condition. Another
difficulty is that very often, after the frost has
left 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 practiced. 1t is not gen.
orally known that wheat will give excellent re-
suits it cultivated in rows. out such has been
demonstrated in Europe to be the most profit
able method of securing large yields 1t compels
the grower to thoroughly prepare the land and
select the best seed only, in order TO save labor
in eradcating weeds, the yield being crop of
better quality than that produced by the broad
cast system.
The common practice with the majority of
wheat growers is to drill in the Seed and many
of them drill superphosphate at the time of put
ting in tho seed. The wheat crop, however is
one that responds to kind treatment, and the use
of the harrow over the field in the spring usually
results in increasing the yield in grain, as well
as stimulating growth early. Wheat is very
partial to heterogeneous fertilizers, though the
phosphates are also beneficial. In some sections
the farmers apply guano, while in others sui
plate of ammonia is used. The ordinary fertil-
izers sold as superphosphate often contain a
large proportion of nitrogen Also but, though
such applications are beneficial. it will be found
best to give dressing of some heterogeneous fer
tilizer 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 readily
solubles in water. Whether the soda benefits
the growing wheat or not is yet TO be deter
mined, as 1t is claimed that soda does not enter
largely into the composition of the plants. But
there is doubt that it assists in rendering SOL
uble the silica, which is essential to the plants,
and which is one of the most important elements
appropriated as food by the crop Silica is
very plentiful substance in all Soils but it is so
insoluble as to be almost useless, and it is never
applied in the fertilizers, but is chaDgedin COM
position in the soil by the chemical action of
lime, potash, soda, salt and acids
Although an application of superphosphate
ing of the same substance during the spring,
in connection with the nitrate of soda, usually
gives good results. In a few days after the APP
plication greener tinge will appear on the
plants, and they will grow very fast, even where
the crop is sicky and seems unpromising.
Nitrate of soda is known as Chill saltpeter, and
ranges in price, for the crude article, from four
to six cents a pound. The quantity required for
an acre is from 100 to 200 pounds, and though
perhaps apparently expensive it more than pays
for such investment In the benefit to the grow
ing 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 improvement to
carefully remove all the cookie and other weeds
by pulling them out by hand, in order to avoid
such seeds the succeeding season. The harrow
ing of the field will also cover the seeds of
clover, should such crop be sown the wheat
field, thus insuring better stand of clover and
uniform appearance in its growth.