The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1909-09-09
Land For Wheat

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been found best by experience and ex-
pertinent. But weather conditions
have been such as to make il practical
ly impossible to get blowing done. The
hot and dry weather baked the land
and, except where discing had been
done, made a good job Of blowing inn
possible.
The very practical question now is
what is the next best thing to do. 1t
is too late to pillow much land for wheat
and get it worked down into good
shape for seeding before the last of
October.
But a great deal of land now in corn
is in first-class condition for seeding
to wheat. Where the land vas plowed
deep last fall and winter and where
clean cultivation has been given, the
land is in good shape for wheat. 1t is
best, Of course, to cut and remove the
fodder. Many have done this for the
purpose of saving the feed. The fod-
ner if u green has much feeding val.
ne as half an average crop of corn.
Where the fodder has been cut and
shocked, a disking and a narrowing
will put the land in shape for wheat
seeding, especially if the fourteen
tooth or the old mower wheels were
kept going. Even this good cultiva-
ton did not make a full crop If corn
but it helped. And one way to get
some more pay for the land is to put
that land to wheat.
Wheat is somewhat particular as to
the sort of soil. 1t prefers the firmer
soils and does not find its best condi-
tions for loose, sandy soils. These
points should be considered by the
folks when planning to SOW some
wheat this fall.
Where the fodder has been removed
any of the standard drills properly
adjusted and operated will do
good work. The seeding should
be begun soon after the middle of
September. And it is 10 as necessary
to wait for a good rain when sowing
wheat as when sowing alfalfa. 1t is
the general experience that in a dry
season, wheat she uld be sown, even if
there is not a good season" in the
ground when the right time comes.
And the right time for wheat seeding
before November LIST.
Where the corn fodder has not been
cut wheat may be drilled with the
smaller drills between the rows. The
stalks may be broken down during the
winter when the ground is frozen,
without doing the wheat any harm
And wheat growing in the stalk field
will help keep cattle in condition and
prevent the cornstalk disease which is
often nothing else than too much dry
harsh feed and no green stuff.
The same method of seeding may be
followed in the cotton field and many
western Oklahoma farmers got good
yields of wheat from that sown in the
cotton fields last fall. But all of this
requires hat the corn or cotton has
had clean cultivation to keep the land
free from weeds and grass and to put
it in condition to take in water when
rains come. And good yields of wheat
cannot be expected on cotton land
which was not given good preparation
before planting to these crops, either
by fall and winter blowing or double
listing.
Following kaircorn or milomaize
with wheat is a different proposition
and not certain of success after a dry
season. These crops do not take more
plant food from the soil than the corn
does. But they keep On growing in a
dry soil long after corn has died and
thus leave the soil very dry and hard
and in poor mechanical condition.
Much more depends upon good fall
rains when following these ctops with
wheat than when sowing wheat or cot
ton land. But If you want to take the
chance, cut and remove the kafircorn
or milomaize as soon as matured and
shock the fodder or remove it from the
field. Then at once, before second
growth starts, disk out the stubble
thoroughly so that they do not begir
growing and taking more moisture
Wait for a rain il possible before SOW
ing and don't be afraid of narrowing
too often. And remember that re-
suits are no guaranteed.
There is one condition wh'n sowing
wheat in a dry soil results in a pool
stand or a total loss of the seed. Thar
is when just enough rain falls on a dr.,
soil to bring up the wheat but no
enough to support It's growth after thu
food stored in the seed has been con
sumed. And for this reason, it vii
probably be well to wait for a rain a
lo,u M Oetoher Is before Sowing