The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-10-26
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WHEAT GROWING in ROTATION.

Nv.
Successful Farmer Cites Rcnsons For
ITS Necessity-Favorite Rotations.
Notwithstanding the discouraging out
! 4ook regarding the cultivation of wheat
An all parts of our land it seems quite
necessary that this product should con-
ftnue to fill it's important place in tbe
work OF rotation that has so long been
eeemeu essential for successful farming,
ana especially to those engaged in grow
ang the winter varieties. Thus writes q
New York farmer from Genesee county
70 The American Cultivator. He SAYS:
As grown here in western New York the
rotation consists OF four years course
as follows: Corn, potatoes. beans, etc.,
are planted on lands where clover or
glover and timothy mixed were grown
Tor hay or pasture the year previous.
THESE planted crops are usually followed
fhe ensuing spring by sown crops, con-
ststing mainly of barley, oats and peas,
the harvesting of which begins in their
order as named
1t possible, the plows are started in the
work of preparing the ground for winter
wheat Immediately after the removal Of
these spring grains from the field, for at
best there is barely time to suitably pre-
pare the soil and for the desired cultiva-
zion to subdue the foul growth of Can
ada thistles, ETC., and also that proceed
ing from the scattered kernels of the DIFF
ferent grains. The intervening time be-
tween the LIST and 18th days of Septem-
Der is here considered the most favora-
BILE for sowing the seeds. The drill has
universally superseded that of hand SOW
ing in accomplishing this work, and al
though nearly all drills are arranged for
sowing grass seed (timothy) at the same
time it is not generally practiced, as
many prefer sowing this seed two or
three weeks later, thus avoiding Wig
orous growth, which sometimes proves
detrimental to the wheat plant.
The following spring another work,
the Importance of which cannot be over
estimated, is that Of seeding these wheat
fields to clover, on the success of which
depends in II large degree the future
prosperity of the farmer Without the
aid of this wonderful plant in the work
OF extracting from the depths of the
soil the elements necessary for the
growth and development of plant life
our condition as farmers would, it is
feared, be much more depressed than it
is at present. AT wheat harvest, with
favorable conditions, these fields are
found well covered with thick growth
of clover or timothy, as the case may be,
ready fol pasture or meadow purposes
the coming year, thus beginning another
four years course of rotation.
From the foregoing it is readily seen
why the wheat growing farmer is SO re-
luctant to discontinue its cultivation,
even at theseemingly ruinously low prices
now prevailing. 1t must also be borne in
mind that in addition to It's value as
above referred to an abundance of straw
is u natural outcome, which in this lati-
tude seems almost indispensable for the
growth and comfort of all farm animals
during the rigors of our northern winters,
and which in the end contributes so much
to the required fertility of our farms.
Again, wheat is the one product that has
long been considered as the "money
crop" of the farmer in certain sections,
always commanding a cash valuation i'm
the markets of the world.
Summer following, once considered SO
essential in the cultivation of this grain,
10 nearly VI Qulle discontinued, ana IN
stead of blowing the ground in June
and working it at intervals through the
summer till seeding time spring crop
is now grown and wheat sown after its
removal as above stated. AS result.
the products of the farm are much in
creased, and improbable as it may ap-
pear the yield per acre of wheat is in ex-
cess of that obtained after the old meth
cd. Next to pea, l consider barley
ground the most favorable for this pur
pose. Bean and oat ground is also sue
cessfully used, the latter more extensive
ly, being one the writer has almost ex-
clusively practiced for many years.