Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1893-10-21

WHEAT GROWING IN ROTATION.


A Successful Farmer Cites Reasons For
| Its Necessity-Fayorite Rotations.
Notwithstanding the discouraging out
look regarding the cultivation of wheat
in all parts of our land it seems quite
necessary that this product should con-
tinue to fill its important place in the
work of rotation that has so long been
deemed essential for successful farming,
and especially to those engaged in grow
| ing the winter varieties. Thus writes
New York farmer from Genesee county
to 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
clover and timothy mixed We're grown
I for hay or pasture the year previous.
These planted cropsare usually followed
the ensuing spring by sown crops, con-
sisting mainly of barley, oats and peas,
the harvesting of which begins in their
order as named.
If 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-
ton 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 1st and 10Th days of Septem-
Der is here considered tho 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universally superseded that of hand SOW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 a 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 n 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 o. 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 the seemingly ruinously low prices
now prevailing. 1t must also be borne in
mind that in addition to its value as
above referred to an abundance of straw
is 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 VI Iilc Lar III Ctfldll
always commanding n cash valuation in
the markets of the world.
Summer following, once considered so
essential i'll the cultivation of this grain,
is nearly or quite discontinued, and 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 APP
pear the yield per acre of wheat is in ex-
cess of that obtained after the old meth
cd. Next to pea, | 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.