The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1898-06-01
AGRICULTURAL.
Looking Ahead for Wheat.

-four was down to $3.50 per barrel 1t
was of little use to think of growing |
wheat; in fact most of our farmers
could make far better wages by grow
ing corn and clover. But as things
have been, and are likely to be in the |
future, it is going to be big drain on
farmers to buy their -four. The ques-
ton is, will it pay for them to try to
grow their own wheat? Last year the
Department of Agriculture estimates
the wheat crop of the State at 59,S06
bushels, grown on 3,51S acres, at the
rate of II bushels per acre, and valued
at S62,19S. The price is put at S1.04
per bushel. Some years the yield goes
up to 20, and even %, bushels on an
average per acre in the State. But we
have known of yields of 40 bushels per
acre being claimed, and this brings us
back to the question, Will it pay for the
farmers of Vermont to try to grow
their own wheat? 1t will not pay some
of them. The man who has dropped
small grains out of his crops, who has
got in the way of growing only corn,
grass, and potatoes, will find it hard
to 60 back to crop that must be
threshed 1t costs large sum TO get
grain threshed, and the less grain there
is to thresh the more it costs accord
ingly. When farmer is growing oats,
etc., and has to have a machine to
thresh them, he can get an acre or two
of wheat threshed for little additional
expense. But when he must hire a
machine to thresh an acre or two of
wheat, that is another matter.
Then there is the harvesting, for we
are going to begin at that end of the
crop. Oats and barley can be moved,
but it will hardly do to NOW wheat,
though we have known of its being
done. But if it is not moved and
there is no reaper or self binder to hire
TO cut it, then it becomes a problem
how to get it in shape for the barn. 1t
is true there are still some of the old
fashioned grain cradles left, and there
are men who know how to use them.
If you can get the man and the cradle
to cut your wheat, well. If not, you
may find it hard to get it cut and bound
in good shape.
Next comes the question, If l SOW
wheat, what kind shall / SOW? In
southern Vermont winter wheat does
the best; in the northern part spring
wheat is the best. Then comes the
question of culture, seed, preparing the
soil, etc. If wheat is to be sown next
fall, the work of preparation must be-
gin early. Wheat can be grown after
oats, after potatoes, and after early-cut
fodder corn. Wheat needs to be got in
early; probably between the first and
middle of September is the best time.
If you have no good land for wheat, it
is useless to think of trying to grow
winter wheat. Spring wheat may do.
The land must be in good condition; if
poor, fertilizers may be used. If you
have no place for wheat except sod
ground, and think best to use it, try
this plan: After getting off the hay
plow and harrow right away, not in a
day or two but the same day. This
prevents loss of moisture and keeps
the soil from getting packed and baked.
1t you cannot plan TO harrow right
away, better not pillow, for large part
of the success of summer blowing lies
in immediate narrowing. Then har-
row once week through the summer.
Mark that it pays to give wheat land
thorough tillage, and don't you forgot
it. And don't 60 to growing wheat un.
less you are ready to harrow and roll,
harrow and roll, harrow and roll. 1t
pays. More than one wide awake
farmer has found it out. Men have
added ten and even thirteen bushels to
wheat crop mostly by thorough tillage.
You can till corn and potatoes after
they are planted, but all the tillage Of
wheat must be done before it goes into
the ground. Then about sowing. In
the grain-growing regions drills are
used for putting in grain. No one sows
wheat or rye by hand. 1t can be done;
if uhave no drill and cannot get one it
must be sown broadcast, but it will not
do 30 well. The drill puts it just right,
buries every grain at just the right
depth and sows the fertilizers just
where and in just the amounts needed.
Wheat seems to be a queer sort of
plant. Sometimes it will do well for q
number of years in section, then sud
denly it will fail and seem not to do at
all well for years. Then it will sud-
denly start in and do well again. But
we expect that thorough preparation
OF the soil has good deal to do with
the success Of wheat.
We cannot advise dairy farmers who
have got thoroughly used to growing