Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1901-12-23
Seeding the Wheat Crop.

In the eastern section wheat is seed
ed in the fall, and it is a profitable crop
for the reason that improved seeding
and harvesting machinery have re-
duced the cost of production to a min
imum. Farmers have discovered that
the best crops are secured when the
land has been deeply plowed and then
narrowed until the field is in as fine
condition as possible. The seed drill is
now used in preference to broadcast
seeding, as nearly all drills have fertil-
izer attachments, which save labor in
the use of plant food. AS a wheat field
cannot be cultivated after the plants
are well grown, the only way to pre-
vent weeds is to have the wheat follow
some crop that has been cultivated,
such as corn; but it is we'll known that
fields and cause considerable annoy
ance. For tnat reason the corn should
be removed from the field and the land
plowed and narrowed as early as possi-
BILE. SO as to give the seeds of any
weeds chance to germinate while the
weather is warm. Just before seeding
the wheat the land should be well
stirred with a cultivator and again
narrowed If roller is used immedi-
ately after plowing the seeds of weeds
will germinate sooner. No manure
from the barnyard should be used on
the wheat field, as the seeds of weeds
may be distributed by so doing unless
70 ic tai, hot tho
has passed through stage of ferment-
alton that destroyed all seeds. AS ad-
ditionS to the heap are made frequent
ly, there is no certainty as to the con-
ditions of the manure 1t is the excel
lent preparation of the soil in the fall,
and the use of clean, plump seed that
makes the crop the next summer, ans
if the land is well drained there will be
less liability of injury from severe
cold winter.
Phosphate and potash should be ap-
piled in the fail using but small pro-
portion of nitrate, as it is easily carried
away by rains; but early in the spring
i mixture of nitrate of soda and dried
blood may be used with advantage.
Some lands are naturally rich in pot
ash, especially where manure has been
used on corn, as manure does not all
become soluble the first season of ap-
plication. An application of so pounds
nitrate of soda, 200 pounds phosphate
and 100 pounds sulphate of potash per
acre in the fall will prove excellent,
which should be followed in the spring
by so pounds nitrate of soda and rs
pounds of ground dried blood. The
quantities mentioned depend largely,
however, upon the fertility of the soil,
as no formula can be suggested that
will be suitable for all soils. The prop
er mixing of the ingredients is very
important, and must be done carefully,
as it is difficult to secure perfect uni
formity unless the farmer is expert
enced in such work. The phosphate
should be acidulated, so as to have the
phosphoric acid available. and may be
of bone or phosphate rock. In place of
the nitrate of soda in the fall, 100
pounds OF ground dried fish may be ap-
piled, in which case only $50 pounds
phosphate need be used. The nitrogen
Of the fish is not in as soluble condi
lion as that in nitrate of soda, but it
will not be so easily lost and will be
more lasting. Cottonseed meal, which
sells at from $22 to $25 per ton, ac-
cording to the market, is an excellent
fertilizer, as we'll as a desirable food
for animals. One thousand pounds of
cottonseed meal contains about 20
pounds of nitrogen, 80 pounds phos-
phoric acid and IS pounds potash, the
fertilizing value of which is about S11,
which makes it too expensive if used
before feeding it to animals, it's feeding
value being greater than its value as
manure. The cheapest forms of ferti-
izer are the mineral substances men
toned above, the most expensive plant
food being the nitrogen.-Philadelph
Record