The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1886-10-15
WHEAT CULTURE.
Sowing Too Much Seed . Mistake Mad
by Very Many Growers.

y
by Very Many Growers.
The average amount of wheat per
acre sown throughout the country is
fully six pecks. Each year of observa-
ton or experience the more convlnces
me that this, save in few cases, is too
much; and that not only would seed be
saved, but a much larger yield would be
made by sowing less seed. 1t can be
shown that quart of seed per acre
should produce a very heavy yield; for a
grain can be made to produce one thou
sand fold-the plant tillering till twenty
culms are produced, and each culm will
hear head containing fifty grains.
But, of course, this does not hold good
in practice. With our present nipple
ments and methods of farming it is ipa-
possible to SO prepare the ground and
sow the seed as to give to each grain
those conditions without which it can
not reach its highest estate, and hence
more seed is required. More than this,
we can not altogether prevent the
action of frost or the ravages of
insects and larvae, and the destruc-
ton wrought by these must be pro-
vided for in advance by sowing a greater
amount of seed. How great this amount
should be will depend upon circum-
stances. Generally speaking, the min
imum quantity per acre which should
be sown is three pecks, and the maxi
mum quantity is six pecks. The guam
tity should vary with the fertility of the
land, the character of the soil. the eli
mate, the situation and lay of the land,
the variety of wheat and the condition
of the seed-bed. Where the situation of
the land and the climate are favorable,
the soil is suitable and the seed-bed
in good condition. three pecks per acre
is an abundance upon the most fertile
soil. Less seed is required now than
forty years ago. For, aside from the
change in the fertility of the soil. we
now have better implements and prac-
tice better methods. and therefore pro-
vide for the seed those conditions which
conduce to complete termination of the
seed and vigorous growth of the plant.
Forty years ago the ground could not
be plOwed SO well as now, and it is GER
tain that the seed-bed was not nearly so
well fined and compacted as it is at the
present time. Nor was the manner of
sowing so favorable to the germina-
ton of the seed. BrOadcastng was
then the only method. BY it the
seed was unevenly distributed and COW
cred, at the Lest. In some spots twice
the seed fell that should have been
there, while other spots were compare
lively bare. Of course more seed was
required than if each spot of ground
had received its share Of seed. Then,
again, more seed was required because
it was covered unevcnly. The man who
put in wheat thirty years ago need not
be told that, on account of the rough
seed-bed and the manner of covering
the seed, some grains were covered six
inches deep. while others were left ex-
posed upon the surface. The latter
could not terminate and rOtted or were
picked up by birds; the former might
terminate, but the plant could not push
its way to the surface. With the force
feed grain drill the seed is distributed
very nearly as evenly as could be done;
and if the seed-bed has been properly
prepared, the seed will be covered so
uniformly that none will be lost by rea-
son of having too much or too little
earth above it; while on account of more
even distribution and covering. and the
better condition of the secd-bed, fewer
plants will be weakly and fail to reach
maturity; hence less seed will be re-
quired to produce good yield.
If we can secure as large yield by
sowing three pecks as by sowing six
pecks, we can make great saving in
the aggregate. 1t will amount to tens
of millions of bushels; but by sowing the
proper amount of seed we gain more.
Sowing too much seed reduces the Weld
as surely as not sowing enough seed.
There are so many plants that all can
not gain sustenancc. If six pecks were
evenly distributed over an acre, there
would be one grain in each space of two
and one-half inches square. This is
certainly not enough for plant to live
upon, and if restricted to this space it
must be weakly, and it certainly can not
tiller. At the beginning of growth
some plants, on account Of the greater
| vitality and size of the seed and more
favorable condition surroundings. have
the advantages; and. in the struggle for
existence, made bitter by over-crowd-
ing, these stronger plants will kill out
the weaker ones. The weaker ones are
lost; but this is not the full extent of the
loss. The stronger plants. though they
triumph, are weakened by the struggle,
and lack the vigOr and thrift they would
have were they only to exist at the be-
ginning of growth. Thus there is a
loss not only of seed, but also of vitality
on the part of those plants which sur
vive. 1t is apparent that it is of the
! greatest importance to sow enough
seed, but no more, and the proper
amount should be determined BY each
grower for himself, since it will vary
with the soil, ETC., peculiar to each farm
or farmer. In my opinion. the man
who seeks to determine the proper
amount is safe in beginning by sowing
less seed than he has been.
1t will be observed that am in favor
of drilling in the wheat. using two
horse force-feed grain drill; and would
say that another mistake of wheat
growers was in not using the drill l
know that some very successful wheat
growers are advocates of brOadcasting,
but can not avoid thinking that there
must be something exceptional about
their farms or methods. or that they
would be yet more successful if they
used the fOrce-feed drill. For my part
/ can not see how it can be otherwise,
for the drill certainly distributes the
seed more evenly than the most careful
hand-sower can, and covers it more uni
formly than can be done with q harrow
nv br,,sb EyaunoSSsiu distribution and
uniformity in covering are certainly ia
vorable to the termination of the seed
and the growth of the plant And l