Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1890-06-28

there is risk that heavy rains right
after seeding will pack such fine
land too solidly; but on my soil l
will take the risk, seeking, if posi-
BILE, to SOW after the heavy rain, if
there seems to be danger of one at
that time. On soil less finely pre-
pared, dry fall would do me dam
age.
Although have averaged as high
as IS bushels per acre for five years in
succession, from broadcast sowing
with seeder, l have bought drill
this year. 1 lost enough last year to
pay for it, on my little wheat field.
Potato stubble is apt to be dry in a
dry time. We SOW after potatoes.
The fall of 1887 was very dry. Our
potato stubble dried out after the
tops died, before we could get the
digging done and the soil pulverised.
No more rain came to wet it. Drilled
wheat came up pretty well, but half
of that that was broadcasted lay in
the soil till rain came, which was too
late to do much good. Once before l
have been caught this way. I will
not wait for three times to get out. l
bought an Empire drill, from your
State, because after years of watching
believe that it distributes the grain
more evenly than any other l know
Of. The hoes are only 7 inches apart,
which comes pretty near to broadcast
seeding.
wrote you last year about my sue
cess with using straw on an exposed
hillside to prevent winter killing.
Last fall we put straw on two or three
acres that had a northwestern ex-
posture. This was done in December
when the ground was frozen. 1t is
hard to tell how thick we put it. AS
nearly as can write it, we put on our
strawberries just enough so one could
not see through, and on the wheat
just enough so he could barely see
through. There was one spot where
my son got on load or two, as I
thought, almost too thick-about
right for strawberries; but the wheat
worked through it all right. l feared
for the clover seed sown on there
but to my surprise it started quicker
and came up ranker than on the
thinner places. Only once before
since / have been here have | had as
good wheat that exposed hillside. In
1883 and 1886 it was a failure and
hurt my average. This year was
good enough, and the clover is now
fine.
One of your readers, who lives in
Wayne county, this State, led by my
article last year, put straw all ovel
his wheat field right after drilling
He says the wheat came up through
nicely and did as well as he coulC
ask. 1t seems as though this would
cause too much driving over anC
tramping the ground when it wa
soft; but again, the wheat growing
up through would hold the straw
from blowing in punches.
After reading this letter over, it ha
occurred to me that some, perhap
many, would say: "Better hire
drill than to buy one where only
dozen acres of wheat are ever put in.
l think differently. The interest ant
depreciation on drill, kept stored il
my tight tool house when not in use
amount to nothing by the side of be
ing able to put my wheat in just a
, the right time, which l could not al
ways do unless the drill was owned
: Depending on a hired drill may b
, cause of a partial failure. Cuttin
, wheat any day when one can hire
binder, or putting in the crop whe
his turn comes to use the drill, woul
not do for me, small farmer as Tan
o 1 must make my crops count. I hay
: not acres enough, so I dare not ris
. any way but the best and safest wa!
o Summit County, o., Aug. 8.
That Agricultural Depression.