West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1909-07-22
c. v. GREGORY.
Author Of Home Course In Modern
Agriculture"

xr~--~Tf-N
early In tho spring. Another method
OF using winter wheat I'm tho rotation
Ia 10 cut tho corn early for sllage or
fodder and sow tho wheat on tho corn
stubblo ground. Tho trouble with this
method IL that It IN usually 30 late
boforo tho corn can DO got of the
ground that tho wheat does not get
enough OF n start to enable IL 20 with
stand an extra sovero winter There
IL an advantage I'm having wheat fol-
low corn or some other cultivated crop
I'm that tho weeds viii bother much
less. Tho work of seeding Is also less
since the ground does not need 60 DO
plowed.
Preparing tho Ground.
Wheat, like oats. needs frm seed
bod. Corn ground which has been run
over twice with a disk is an ideal seed
bed. lt Is fino and mellow on top and
firm beneath. There is nothing TO pre-
vent tho capillary moisture from ris-
Ing rapidly TO tho loose top layer,
whero IL is held just whero tho roots
need IL. When wheat follows somo
other small grain tho ground is so hard
that, except I'm tho case OF very loose
soils, tho disk will have littlo effect ON
It. Such ground must DO plowcd.
Flowing for wheat does not need TO bo
very deep. Many farmers practice
burning tho stubble before plowing,
since I'm this way many insects ana
weeds are destroyed, and tho capiI-
larry connection is restored quicker.
Some humus Is lost I'm this way, but
tho advantages gained I'm many cases
mako it more profitable TO obtain tho
needed humus I'm somo other way.
Tho soil should bo well dlslsed and
narrowed after plowing to mako
fine. compact seed bed. with wheat,
as with oats considerably better yields
aro obtained by the use OF drill. In
loose or dry soils tho press drill is n
big advantage. Tho wheels that fol-
low pack tho soil over tho seed. This
brings the soil into closer contact with
the wheat grains. and they will alb
sorb moisture faster and begin 20 grow
sooner. This quclSness OF starting IN
OF much importance I'm fall sown
wheat near tho northern limit OF tho
winter wheat belt. since there every
thing depends on tho wheat making
good growth before the ground freezes.
isilihcha OF beeulnH IL Important Tor
tho same reason. IL you cannot yet
your winter wheat In early-and by
early Is meant the first half OF Sep
tember-it is better TO wait until
spring and sow n spring variety.
Tho ground for spring wheat should
DO prepared In much tho samo manner
as for oats. The rate OF seeding whero
drill Is used should be fivo or six
pecks TO the acre, with either spring
or winter varieties. When sown broad
cast about peck moro will bo need
ed. If there is much smut present tho
seed should bo treated as outlined for
oat smut I'm article No. 4. Tho seed
should DO famed and graded and test.
cd for termination.
Rotation In Wheat Farming.
In the grent spring wheat regions
the Introduction of n crop OF clover
every two or three years will material
ly Increase the yield. The growing OF
clover VIII mean somo live stock TO
eat It. and the manure thus obtained
VIII still further increase tho wheat
yields. Tho introduction OF some OF
tho other grain and forage crops win
equalize the demands upon the soil
and add TO the profits obtained from