The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1898-10-28
PREPARING THE SOIL
ter wheat Crop VIII Not
Ne Satisfactory.


A good deal OF success or failure 10
the production Of winter wheat lies
in the pre- paration Of the soil.
Ii s IA be regretted that so many
fields are put IN in a slipshod manner
Farmers adopting this method will
grow because they do not make sue
cess u winter wheat. and will forever
after let the other fellow grew wheat
while they stick 10 something they
know will respond 10 little labor and
thought.
The old-iime method Of summer fall
low has about passed out of use, but II
10 modified to certain degree by
piowirg the land intended for wheat
as cary as possible. In this way much
OF the summer fallow result is secured.
The soil needs exposure to the air in
order to promote chemical changes
that result in an increase OF available
food for the plants. 1t needs time for
such tillage, that the particles Of soil
may be well mixed, and their positions
towards each other changed. IL re-
quires time 10 become solid beneath
the surface as a result Of fall rains.
An Old rule in English agriculture is
20 the eject that Land that is TO bear
wheat Cannot be too old or too solid.
provided that il is fertile and free
from " eeds, and that there Is enough
loose loan a, the surface 10 cover the
seed" These successful wheat grow
ers hold that firm standing is re.
quired Tor the healthy Development
and pro per ripening OF wheat. In proof
on this we have often observed that the
best wheat is found at the ends where
therA has been the most ira mping done
by men and teams. The best bed is one
that is prepared early and pulyerzed
4 well, ana which receives surface work
4 ings regularly until the time Of seed.
, ing comes.
We have in mind a very successful
grower Of winter wheat who viii not
grow " heat If he cannot have the con
dition necessary for good seed bed
The best ground for wheat is field
which has been TO oats the previous
wear. As soon as the oats are removed
The ground is plowed comparatively
shallow, in fact i; is plowed about az
shallow as can be done TO turn under
the growth OF stubble and weeds. ~
soon : plowed I, is disked and har
rowed. and about once per week until
seeding time the land should be har
rowed. The narrowing and the tramp
ing Of the teams on the field, together
with the rains. IL there are any. viii II
the ground well for wheat. For selec
ton Of ground the level lana is con
sidered best. and il may be either val
ley land or upland. The next bes
land is southeast slope.
Preparing ground for wheat in grow
ing corn or after the corn has been re
moved. is not carried on with that sue
cess required by the most practice
wheat growers. Good and ehectua
work cannot be done in the GROWN
corn, even IL the wheat grower has
fine hoe or drill for the purpose {
drilling. To get the corn of the ne
means a great deal Of labor that IN
average western wheat grower doe
not care to undertake. and il makes n
time OF seeding rather late for be'
results. II II is not possible to cut tn
corn and haul il off the field. II may B
well TO make the shock rows far apar
and prepare the ground between IN
rows for wheat. The best tool for PR
varinr this kind Of ground for wheat
found In the disc harrow. followe
thoroughly with a smoothing harrov
The limited time will not permit 4
much work as in the stubble ground
Iowa Homestead.
i