The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-03-04
SPRING WHEAT.
In Some Localities the Plant Has Been
Damaged During Winter.

A bulletin issued by Prof. w. c.. Latta,
in charge of the agricultural experiment
station at Purdue University, contains the
following information
Letters recently received at the expert
ment station Indicate that the wheat crop
is seriously winter killed in some localities.
Several correspondents wish TO know Wheth-
er 1t is feasible to sow spring wheat where
winter wheat is badly damaged. In order
to get the consensus OF opinion on this sub
ject, the following letter of inquiry was adj
dressed to prominent farmers in several
counties in the State, in which 1T was sup
posed spring wheat had been grown:
Nine replies from six different counties
have been received to date Three CORE
spondents state that they have had no eX-
perience and do not know that spring wheat
has been grown near them. Five state that
spring wheat has been grown in the locality
in previous years, but that its culture is
now abandoned. These correspondents re-
side in the counties of Pulaski, Cass Tippe-
canoe Newton Benton and Vermllion. One
correspondent in the south part of Newton
county has grown spring wheat extensive
~ in the past. The six correspondents who
that it is very liable to attacks of rust,
blight and chinch bugs. One correspondent
lin Vermillion county, states that persistent
attempts on the part of a few farmers 10
grow spring wheat caused bad feeling in the
neighborhood. The chinch bugs harbored
by it DESTROYED much larger areas of corn.
Spring wheat growing has therefore been
entirely abandoned in the community.
"One correspondent would not sow spring
has grown spring wheat extensively states
that it should be sown very early-lst to the
10th of March if possible; and that the
soil should not be stirred more than two
inches Deep DIETER one inch), first. to avoid
destroying the remaining live plants of
winter wheat, and second, to permit the
moisture to get to the surface. He also adj
viseS rolling after sowing. He would not
grow spring wheat two seasons in success
sion, because of it's tendency to increase the
chinch bug: Another states that, spring
wheat should be sown on strong land, never
later than the end of March.
station agrees with that of the farmers who
have reported. in respect to low yield, and
the poor quality of the spring wheat and i'd
does not seem wise, therefore, to grow
spring wheat in Indiana, excepting perhaps,
as al experiment, and then only for single
season in locality.
but what shall be done with fields of
injured wheat? l would suggest first,s that,
farmers wait until the growing season
opens. Perhaps the wheat will rally as it
did last spring. Second. II the wheat has
been killed outright and the soil is i'm
disc or spring-tooth harrow, followed by
spike-tooth harrow. Sow clover seed
literally and Immediately roll. Third
if considerable wheat remains. use only a
spike-tooth harrow which will not seriously
disturb the wheat plants, then sow clover
seed as before using the roll or not as may
seem best.
I'm case clover will not catch and if it
is desired to grow some other soil renewing
crop, cow peas might De SOWn as soon as
the spring frostS are over This crop makes
a strong growth which should be turned UNI
der before frost in the fall. Being a legume
the cow peas would have an excellent effect
on the soil. in addition to the vegetable mat
ter furnished. If it is necessary to grow
some crop to be harvested the same season,
oats, potatoes, corn millet, some other
crop more suited TO the individual needs of
the farmer, may be grown: but it will be
decidedly better for the soil in most cases
if some leguminous crop can be grown.
Parties desiring to procure spring wheat or
COW peas should consult the catalogues of
the seedsmen and not the experiment sta
finn -