The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1902-11-11
NOTES OF THE FARM !:
BY W. F. Massey in Practical Farmer.


fnest We have ever known for making
,-orrfss i'm the saving of the crops and
,sa nreparation and seeding of the land
.b fail crops. Tho days have been fine
and bright and the nights not too cool. Ex-
..r- in the mountain sections of the
western parts of the Southern States
,sara has been no frost to do injury. and
oven there the frosts have been few
ami light. As a consequence of this
crea+ progress has been made in saving
orn and forage crops; all the tobacco
.roo has been secured without injury
and cotton picking has made rapid prog
rass-nuch OF the area planted in that
,rnr except in the far South, being safely
gathered and now going forward to mar
lpt Tobacco is already being marketed
freely. and fine prices are being made
even Iugs selling for from $4.0O to 50. 90
rar hundred. Winter oats have been
mostly seeded and some wheat is already
S0wn.
Whcat-soWing should be pushed for
ward now as fast as the land can be got
ready as all danger from injury by the
fir is practically past. Whilst we thus
urge the completion of the seeding of
wheat we would couple this advice with
the further advice not to seed until the
land is we'll prepared and fine surface
and Wen consolidated sub surface is Sc
cured The yield of the wheat crop this
rear in the South was a poor one, and
the general average yield year by year
is not 10y any means what it ought to be-
In Virginia, in 1901, the yield of wheat
was only a little over 10 bushels to the
acre This year it will be still less In
North ana South Carolina the yield was
only little over bushels to the acre.
In Maryland the yield in 1901 was over
l. bushels TO the acre, whilst in Kentucky
,ha yield was u bushels to the acre.
whilst Virginia made only $3.50. 1872 bush
@s Of wheat on 774,136 acres of land,
whilst Virginia made only 9,6980, 1872 bush
e.s on >Ss.>9o acres. No natural soil
or climatic conditions exist TO account
for So large a difference between the
g.alds in Maryland and Virginia and
North and South Carolina. The true
cause of The difference we believe to be
-ao much better preparation OF the land
before seeding the crop in Maryland than
IS the case in the other three States, and
also tn feet that lime is much more
IN Virginia and North and South Caro-
lima. The use of the lime results in a
much heavier growth OF clover and the
elaar l-guminous crops. and these IN
'l-o supply the soil with more plant
-2aa- which is made available for the
Wheat crop by a better system of rota-
lion anil moro perfect cultivation and
PREPARATION Of the soil. Wheat
Hrnr fCrc w
II" g.an- food but as pointed out by the
,s.a Sir J. r. Lawes. to enable it to dc
ms -1a land on which it can secure it
A-s+ be- weu prepared before the seed
is -a"n \ week spent in better fitting
one ACRE Ct land before seeding will be
~iea moro prodtably spent than in plow-
Ing and fitting al extra acre to be seeded,
'ae1" is no reason whatever why the av-
erase r-.ld Of wheat per acre in Virginia
a". North and South Carolina should
-. ' doubled and that without the cx-
I.1"fAro of one dollar more per acre
4 |frt'lzer. Early and better blowing
a.i cultivation OF the soil, the growing
~. clover and COW peas and tho apllica
4 '. a dressing Of from 20 to 80 BUSH
N NJ limo to the acre once in each
..ahoh Of crops will effect the object.
truth of this is shown by the wheat
'2 grown hy Mr.. Bellwood a. Drury S
Ea- this year, particulars OF
"." "ar" published in our July and
moor issues. He made an average
over - bushels to the acre on 70
"91. grown on upland, and this
tho use Of any fertilizers. There
-"" Vet to improve the condition
s"fG-bod and yet not be too late
'nS. crop of wheat that can be
"n above ground before hard,
weather sets in will almost inva-
f make a better yield than one
." '# two or three inches at that
.no 10 it that after tho crop is
' si"For provision is made for drai =
@a water away from the field so that
a. not stand on tho crop or the
.'"01no water logged. Wheat can
~.'" I'M wa ecr. Lay off plenty Of wa
.I'0Es. and s"e that all drains and
ms arc cleaned out and the mouths
Kept o.aa