Cottonwood report. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1893-1901, 1898-07-01
FARM AND GARDEN.
MATTERS OF INTEREST TO
AGRICULTURISTS
Some Up-to-Date Hints About Gull
tivation of the Soil and Yields
Observation-Disclosures viticulture and
Horticulture.
Spring Wheat for Indiana.


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 whether it is feasible to sow
spring wheat where winter wheat is
badly damaged. In order to get the
concensus of opinion on this subject,
the following letter Of inquiry was ad-
dressed to prominent farmers in sew
erai counties in the state, in which 1t
was supposed spring wheat had been
grown. Nine replies from six different
counties have been received to date.
Three correspondents state that they
nave had no experience 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 it's culture is
now abandoned. These correspondents
reside In the counties of Pulaski, Cass,
llppecanoe, Newton, Benton and Yer
million. One correspondent in the
south part of Newton county has grown
spring wheat extensively in the past.
Inc six correspondents who have any
knowledge Of spring wheat agree that
1t is very liable to attacks Of rust, blight
and chinch bugs. One correspondent
Tin Vermillion county, states that per-
s1stent attempts on the part OF
few farmers to grow spring wheat
caused bad feeling in the neighbor-
hood. The chinch bugs harbored by 1t
destroyed much larger areas OF corn.
Spring wheat growing has therefore
been entirely abandoned in the commu-
nifty. One correspondent would not
SOW spring wheat under any conditions.
The one who has grown spring wheat
extensively states that 1t should be
sown very early-1st 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 sur
face. He also advises rolling after SOW
ing. He would not grow spring wheat
two seasons in succession, because OF
its tendency to increase the chinch bug.
Another states that spring wheat
should be sown on strong land, never
later than the end Of March. The lin
tied experience of the experiment sta
ton agrees with that of the farmers
who have reported, in respect to low
yield and the poor quality of the spring
wheat and its liability to rust and in
sect attacks. 1t does not seem wise,
therefore, to grow spring wheat in In
diana, excepting, perhaps, as an expert
ment, and then only for single season
In locality.
But what shall be done with fields OF
injured wheat? would suggest, first,
that farmers wait until the growing
season opens. Perhaps the wheat will
rally as it did last spring. Second, if
the wheat has been killed outright and
the soil is impoverished, prepare fine
seed bed with a disc or spring-tooth
harrow, followed by spike-tooth har-
row. Sow clover seed literally and i'm
mediately roll. Third, if considerable
wheat remains, use only a spike-tooth
harrow, which will not seriously dis
turb the wheat plants, then SOW clover
seed as before, using the roll or not, as
may seem best. In case clover will not
catch, and If it is desired to grow some
other soil renewing crop, COW peas
might be sown as soon as the spring
frosts are over. This crop makes
strong growth, which should be turned
under before frost in the fall Being
legume the COW peas would have an
excellent effect on the soil, in addition
to the vegetable matter furnished. II
it is necessary to grow some crop to
be harvested the same season. oats. no
tatoes, corn, millet or some other crop
more suited to the individual needs of
the farmer may be grown; but 1t 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 con-
suit the catalogues of the seedsmen and
not the experiment station.-W. G.
| Latta.